Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (17-2) rallied from a four-goal deficit in the second half and captured the Colonial State Athletic Conference (CSAC) championship with a 14-11 victory over Montclair State (10-7). The win gave Stockton its first conference title and NCAA Tournament berth in school history.
 
The Ospreys earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and also set a new school record with 17 wins this season. Luc Swedlund (Randolph/Randolph) scored six goals and dished two assists for eight points and was named MVP of the CSAC championship game.
 
The Ospreys jumped out to a 1-0 lead just 1:46 into the contest on a Dante Poli (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks South) marker. After the Red Hawks knotted the game at 1-1, Erik Anderson (Monroe Twp./Monroe Twp.), on a Swedlund assist, made it 2-1 in favor of the Ospreys. Stockton did not hold the lead again until the fourth quarter.
 
Three straight goals by Montclair State gave the visitors a 4-2 margin before Eric Ellis (Voorhees/Eastern) hit the net with nine seconds left to cut the margin to 4-3 after one period. The Red Hawks outscored Stockton 4-1 in the second period to forge an 8-4 lead at the break.
 
The Ospreys started their comeback in the third quarter by potting four goals to slice the deficit in half to 10-8 in favor of the visitors after three frames. Joey Tiernan (Voorhees/Eastern) and Swedlund both scored twice in the period.
 
The final quarter was all Ospreys as they outscored Montclair State 6-1 to complete the comeback. Three straight goals, two by Swedlund and Tiernan with his third of the day, gave Stockton their first lead since the early going at 11-10 with 10:53 remaining.
 
Montclair tied the contest for the last time at 11-11 with 9:05 to play, then Stockton scored the three straight goals over the final 4:46 for the 14-11 triumph. Swedlund tallied his sixth marker of the day, followed by J.J. McKenna (Barnegat/Barnegat) and Poli to clinch the title for the Ospreys.
 
In addition to Swedlund's eight points, Tiernan had four points with three goals and one assist, as did Poli with two markers and two helpers. Anderson also dished two assists and set the Stockton record for assists in a season with 54.
 
 
Ryan Bradley (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) and Logan Holleritter (Oak Ridge/Jefferson Twp.) scooped seven ground balls each to lead the defense. Goalkeeper Justin Ruiz (Holmdel/Holmdel) made 11 saves in net in the win.
 
Christian Boyle led the Red Hawks with three goals while teammate Kyle Matthews won 17-29 faceoffs and grabbed a game-high 14 ground balls. Goalkeeper Mathew McLaren kicked out nine shots for Montclair State.
 
Stockton will find out its draw in the NCAA Tournament when the selection show airs at 9 pm tomorrow night at www.NCAA.com.