Champ Change?: TCNJ Shuts Down F&M
from press release
EWING, N.J. - Using a solid all-around defensive effort,
The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team notched another big
win against a ranked opponent as the Lions defeated visiting
Franklin & Marshall College on Friday.
The win put the third-ranked Lions at 13-1 on the season, while the
fourth-ranked Diplomats dropped their second straight falling to
11-3. TCNJ has also scored wins this season over top-ranked
Salisbury University and seventh-ranked Gettysburg College.
One of the biggest factors in the game was draw controls as TCNJ
had success throughout winning 16-of-20, including a dominating
nine-of-10 in the second half.
The Lions never trailed in the game jumping out to a 2-0 lead as
junior Ali Jaeger (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon) and sophomore Leigh
Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) opened the scoring with goals in
the first 2:29.
The Diplomats were able to score two of the next three goals
cutting the deficit to 3-2, but the hosts clamped down on the
defensive end of the field by not allowing a goal the final 19:48.
During that stretch, the junior goalie Mary Waller (Bel Air, MD/C.
Milton Wright) made three key saves keeping F&M stuck on two
goals.
At the other end of the field, Jaeger scored two more goals and
sophomore Kathleen Notos (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) and Sara
Keating (Upper Montclair, NJ/Montclair) each tallied once to help
the hosts carry a 7-2 lead into the half.
The Diplomats used a pair of goals from Blake Hargest
(Cockeysville, NJ/St. Paul's School for Girls) to start the second
half and trim their deficit to 7-4.
TCNJ didn't allow F&M to get any closer than that as the Lions
scored three consecutive goals with Notos, Mitchell, and senior
Lisa Seldeen (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) scoring in succession.
F&M did get it to 10-7 before Keating sealed the win with a low
shot with eight ticks left showing on the clock.
Waller finished the game with six saves in garnering her 13th
victory of the season.
Offensively, Keating and Jaeger each finished with three goals and
one assist, while Mitchell and Notos both scored twice with
Mitchell adding an assist.
For the Diplomats, Lidia Sanza (Cockeysville, MD/St. Paul's School
for Girls) made a pair of stops.
TCNJ caps the home portion of its schedule on Sunday, April 25 as
the Lions take on Kean University in a 6 p.m. start.
