The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- November 22, 1999

Lions seniors repeat freshman-year feat with field hockey title

The College of New Jersey claimed its ninth Division III Field Hockey Championship November 14 with a 4-1 win on its home turf over Amherst College.

The win gave the Lions a flawless 20-0 record for the 1999 season, making it the second time in program history they have been undefeated.

In the championship game, College of New Jersey senior midfielder Jami Holtz broke a scoreless tie at the 22:09 mark on an assist by fellow senior midfielder Julie Pedrick. Scoring halted until the end of the first half when Lions sophomore Kerri Hunt converted a pass from senior forward Tiffany Trockenbrod at the 7:17 mark to give her team a 2-0 lead at the half.

After 10 minutes of play in the second half, Amherst got on the board with a goal by senior forward Alie Stechenberg on a pass from senior Tyra Gettleman. It would be Amherst's lone goal of the game.

The Lions went on to score two more times to ensure the victory. Holtz added her second goal of the day off an assist from sophomore Megan McCall with 14:14 left. Trockenbrod ended the scoring on a penalty stroke at the 7:17 mark. The goal gave her 37 for the season, surpassing Robin Schwartz's single-season mark of 36 set in 1996.

The 1999 Lions seniors, who were freshmen on the 1996 championship squad that defeated Hartwick College 2-1, appeared in the NCAA tournament each of their four seasons.

"I am just so proud of the girls and what they have accomplished," said College of New Jersey head coach Sharon Pfluger. "They have worked so hard and they played to win."

The win marks the seventh time Pfluger has guided the Lions to the NCAA title.

The Lions advanced to the championship with a 3-2 win over Springfield College in the semifinals. Kris Arnold led her team with two goals. Trockenbrod scored once and assisted Arnold on the game-winning goal.

Amherst defeated Cortland State, 2-0, in the other semifinal.

The all-tournament team consisted of Kelly McMahon of Cortland State; Elizabeth Kyle and Sarah Kelly of Springfield; Gretchen Bowe, Mairin Brady and Tiffany Waskowicz of Amherst and Arnold, Trockenbrod, Holtz, Gwen Runkle and Jackie Conroy from College of New Jersey.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY

First round: Hartwick 6, New England Col.1; Susquehanna 6, Gwynedd-Mercy 1.

Second round: At Springfield --- Springfield 4, Bowdoin 1; Rowan 2, DePauw 1;

At Lebanon Valley --- Cortland St. 3, Denison 2; Lebanon Valley 4, East. Mennonite 1;

At Skidmore --- Skidmore 3, Susquehanna 2; Amherst 1, Gettysburg 0;

At Col. of New Jersey -- Col. of New Jersey 5, Hartwick 0; Johns Hopkins 1, Salisbury St. 0.

Quarterfinals: Amherst 4, Skidmore 3; Springfield 2, Rowan 1; Cortland St. 1, Lebanon Valley 0; Col. of New Jersey 3, Johns Hopkins 0.

SEMIFINALS

Col. of New Jersey 2 1 -- 3

Springfield 0 2 -- 2

First half: CNJ -- Kris Arnold (Sarah Dunworth), 21:41; CNJ -- Tiffany Trockenbrod (unassisted), 5:28.

Second half: CNJ -- Kris Arnold (Tiffany Trockenbrod), 11:59; S -- Sarah Kelly (penalty stroke), 10:26; S -- Abby Perham (penalty stroke), 2:15.

Shots: Col. of New Jersey 13, Springfield 7. Goalkeeper saves: Col. of New Jersey (Jackie Conroy) 2, Springfield (Stephanie Denyko) 6. Penalty Corners: Col. of New Jersey 19, Springfield 5.

Amherst 1 1 -- 2

Cortland St. 0 0 -- 0

First half: A -- Alie Stechenberg (unassisted), 3:52.

Second half: A -- Robin Ackerman (unassisted), 26:27.

Shots: Amherst 14, Cortland St. 2. Goalkeeper saves: Amherst (Beth Sensing) 2, Cortland St. (Becky Gillette) 10. Penalty Corners: Amherst 10, Cortland St. 2.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Col. of New Jersey 2 2 -- 4

Amherst 0 1 -- 1

First half: CNJ -- Jami Holtz (Julie Pedrick), 22:09; CNJ -- Kerri Hunt (Tiffany Trockenbrod), 7:17.

Second half: A -- Alie Stechenberg (Tyra Gettleman), 25:01; CNJ -- Holtz (Megan McCall), 14:14; CNJ -- Trockenbrod (penalty stroke), 7:17.

Shots: Col. of New Jersey 19, Amherst 6; Goalkeeper saves: Col. of New Jersey (Jackie Conroy) 2, Amherst (Beth Sensing) 12. Penalty Corners: Col. of New Jersey 13, Amherst 6.