NARANJO'S DRAMATIC LATE GOAL SALVAGES 3-3 TIE WITH LEHIGH CARBON

Nicole Naranjo scored in the 87^th minute to cap a dramatic comeback as Middlesex College kept their playoff hopes alive with a 3-3 tie against Lehigh Carbon College.

It was the second straight tie for the Colts, who now stand at 4-3-2 on the season. Lehigh Carbon is 5-2-1.

Teams need a .500 record in Region 19 play or overall to qualify for the Region 19 playoffs.

Despite controlling play early, Lehigh Carbon converted their first two shots on goal and carried a 2-0 lead just 15 minutes into the contest.

To the Colts' credit, Middlesex stayed focused and kept Lehigh Carbon off the scoreboard for the rest of the half.

Six minutes into the second half, Gissel Chirino (Freshman/Carteret, NJ) scored her 12^th goal of the season off an assist from Isabelle Marin (Freshman/South Plainfield, NJ) to cut the Cougars lead to 2-1.

Lehigh Carbon answered back in the 67^th minute with a goal to regain a two-goal cushion.

Once again, the Colts kept the pressure on Lehigh Carbon and finally broke through again in the 83^rd minute when Genesis Garces-Gomez (Freshman/South Plainfield, NJ) buried a long direct kick to make the score 3-2 with less than seven minutes left.

The goal set up a dramatic ending when Naranjo blasted a shot which deflected off a Lehigh Carbon defender and over Lehigh Carbon's goalie for the tying tally with less than three minutes left in the game. It was Naranjo's second goal of the season.

Middlesex outshot 19-11 and Adrianna Nazarko (Freshman/South Plainfield, NJ) had seven saves for the Colts.

Chirino's 12 goals place her fifth nationally among NJCAA Division III players.

Middlesex is scheduled to return to action Thursday when they host Brookdale CC in a pivotal matchup. Game time is set for 7:00PM at Woodbridge High School.