TCNJ Wins 2026 NJAC Women's Soccer Title in Shootout Over Rowan

TCNJ wins NJAC championship in shootout after 110 minutes of scoreless soccer

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) captured the 2026 NJAC Women’s Soccer Championship on Saturday night, overcoming a top-seeded Rowan team in a high-stakes penalty shootout. After 110 minutes of scoreless play at the Rowan Soccer/Lacrosse Complex, the second-seeded Lions converted all four of their shootout attempts to secure a 4-1 victory, according to reports from njacsports.com. The win secures the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament for TCNJ, while Rowan now waits for an at-large selection announcement from the NCAA on Monday, Nov. 9.

Rowan women beat Stockton 4-0 to advance to the NJAC final and improve to 15-0 on the season. They host TCNJ on Saturday at 5 p.m.

— https://x.com/phlsoccernow/status/2118169639075344385

The match featured a clash of national titans. Rowan entered the contest ranked No. 2 in the nation, while TCNJ held the No. 6 spot. Despite the gap in rankings, the game remained remarkably balanced, with neither side able to break the deadlock through regulation or two overtime periods. While Rowan held slight statistical advantages—including 13 shots to TCNJ’s 12 and 8 corner kicks to TCNJ’s 4—the defensive units on both sides proved nearly impenetrable.

Goalkeeping dominates the championship battle

The scoreless deadlock was maintained by standout performances in the net. TCNJ goalkeeper Ellen Williams played the full 110 minutes and recorded six saves to keep the Lions in contention. Williams made critical stops in the second overtime, most notably denying Riley Fortna in the 102nd minute to force the shootout. On the Rowan side, goalkeeper Enya Carthy also played the entire match, finishing with five saves. Carthy entered the game with a conference-leading 0.21 goals against average, having allowed only three goals all season.

The offensive pressure was distributed across both rosters, though neither could find the back of the net during live play. For TCNJ, Emily Weidner led the charge with a game-high six shots. Rowan’s attack was paced by Bella Moore, who recorded four shots and two on goal. In the decisive shootout, TCNJ’s Alyssa Alfano, Maggie Murphy, Lexi Caruso, and Ava Visaggio all successfully converted their attempts. Sara Wiedeman provided the lone goal for Rowan during the tiebreaker.

The statistical breakdown of the match highlights how closely contested the two programs were:

Statistic	TCNJ	Rowan
Shots	12	13
Shots on Goal	5	6
Corner Kicks	4	8
Shootout Goals	4	1

A legacy of excellence in the Danny Blank era

This victory marks the third time in four years that the NJAC championship trophy has traveled to Ewing. The win also reinforces the success of the TCNJ program under head coach Danny Blank. In his fourth year, Blank has maintained the high standards established by his predecessor, Joe Russo, who led the team to 20 conference titles prior to his departure. TCNJ enters this postseason period with a 14-1-2 record.

TCNJ Wins 2026 NJAC Women's Soccer Title in Shootout Over Rowan — Photo: trentonian.com

The rivalry between these two programs has intensified through recent seasons. As noted by the Trentonian, Rowan had previously defeated the Lions in a shootout last November. Heading into this championship, TCNJ head coach Danny Blank emphasized the need for tactical discipline, stating that the team had to be better than their previous matchup to overcome a talented Rowan squad. The Trentonian also highlighted the individual accolades within the conference, noting that Rowan’s Sara Wiedeman was named the NJAC Player of the Year and MaKala Baker was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Women's Soccer – NJAC Tournament

“Our goal was never to make it to the title game,” said Blank. “But I’m happy we put ourselves in a position to be there. Everyone is excited to get back to the championship game.”

While TCNJ moves directly into the NCAA Division III Tournament, the future for Rowan remains contingent on the NCAA selection show. The Profs, who entered the match with a 15-0 record, will find out if they receive an at-large bid when the tournament bracket is revealed on Monday.