Cougars Enter Championship Weekend

Cougars Enter Championship Weekend

UNION, N.J. (5/2/08) - The Kean University Department of Athletic continues one of its most successful spring seasons in recent history, as six teams kick-off championship weekend.

Three of the Cougar teams are in action at Montclair State University, as both men's and women's lacrosse face the host Red Hawks in championship games, while softball moves into day three of the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament.

Softball kicked off the championship weekend with an 8-7, nine-inning victory over William Paterson University on Friday afternoon, as the Cougars advanced to Saturday's action with just four teams remaining.  The Cougars, who earned the fifth-seed in the NJAC tournament with a 10-8 mark, qualified for the six-team tournament for the first time in over a decade. 

The Cougars next face second-seeded Ramapo College for the fourth time in a week, as the two teams split a doubleheader in the regular season finale last Saturday and Ramapo defeated Kean 2-0 in first round action on Wednesday.  

NJAC SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game 1:  Montclair State 6, William Paterson 5
Game 2:  Ramapo 2, Kean 0
Game 3:  TCNJ 4, Rowan 0
Game 4:  Kean 8, William Paterson 7 (9)
Game 5:  Montclair State 2, Rowan 1
Game 6:  TCNJ 1, Ramapo 0

Saturday, May 3, 2008 (@ Montclair State University Softball Stadium)
Game 7: Montclair State (A) at TCNJ (H), 11:00 AM
Game 8: Ramapo (A) at Kean (H), 1:30 PM
Game 9: LG7 vs. WG8, 4:00 PM

Sunday, May 4, 2008 (@ Montclair State University Softball Stadium)
Game 10: WG7 vs. WG9, Noon
Game 11: same teams as G10 (if necessary), 2:30 PM

For more information on the NJAC softball tournament, visit www.njac.net

Women's Lacrosse has already set the new Kean standard for wins a season and they advanced to the Skyline Conference Championship Game with a tight 14-13 victory over College of Mount Saint Vincent on Wednesday, April 30.  The Cougars look for their first conference title in program history when they battle host and top-seeded Montclair State University in the first of two Kean-MSU championship games at 1:00 p.m.

Men's Lacrosse defeated Maritime College, 15-4, on Wednesday, April 30, advancing to the Skyline Conference Championship for the first time in school history.  A four-time Knickerbocker Lacrosse Conference champion, the Cougars are also one win shy of tying the program history for wins in a season set in 1993 (14-2) when the Cougars last won a conference title.  The Cougars take on host and top-seeded Montclair State University on Saturday, May 3, at 6:00 p.m.

Baseball continues to impress, winning their second straight NJAC regular season title, and third in the last four years.  The Cougars opened the NJAC tournament at home on Thursday, May 1, when they defeated #6 Richard Stockton College, 14-2.  Kean faces #3 The College of New Jersey on Saturday, May 3, at 2:00 p.m. 

NJAC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game 1: Kean 14, Richard Stockton 2
Game 2: William Paterson 8, Montclair State 6
Game 3: Rowan 6, TCNJ 2

Saturday, May 3, 2008 (@ Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium - Newark, N.J.)
Game 4: Montclair State (A) at Richard Stockton (H), 10:00 AM
Game 5: Kean (A) at TCNJ (H), 2:00 PM
Game 6: Rowan (A) at William Paterson (H), 6:00 PM

For the remainder of the tournament schedule, visit www.njac.net

The outdoor track and field teams have been improving all season, with over 10 athletes already qualifying for the ECAC Tournament.  This weekend they will take on the conference field, in the NJAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Richard Stockton College.

Saturday, May 3, 2008 (@ Richard Stockton, Pomona, N.J.)

11:00 a.m. (Field Events)
11:30 a.m. (Running Events)

Specific timetable can be found at www.njac.net

Tickets for both New Jersey Athletic Conference softball and baseball tournaments will be available at both campus sites ($5 adults, $2 students, children and seniors) - cash only, while parking is also charged for all games at Montclair State University - cash only.