Box Score

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey and Montclair State University women’s lacrosse programs rekindled their rivalry on the field on Wednesday meeting for the first time in more than 20 years. The fifth-ranked Lions women’s team raced out to the early lead and then maintained that advantage for a 12-10 victory over the Red Hawks.

The game was the first meeting between the two schools since the Red Hawks revitalized women’s lacrosse in 1997. The last meeting came back in 1985 with TCNJ, then known as Trenton State College, collecting a 15-3 victory.

The win put TCNJ at 10-2 on the season, while MSU had its five-game winning streak snapped as they fell to 10-3.

The Lion duo of Rachel Gordon (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) and Toni-Anne Cavallo (Cedar Grove, NJ/West Essex) paced TCNJ in the opening half as Gordon recorded four goals and Cavallo chipped in with two goals and two assists as the hosts led 9-6 at the half. TCNJ scored four of the game’s first five goals as they never trailed in the contest.

MSU’s Shauna Brocklebank (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) led the way for the Red Hawks with three goals in the opening 30 minutes.

The paced slowed in the second half with the Red Hawks scoring 3:15 into the new period as MaryKate DiBenedetto (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) found the back of the net making it a two-goal game.

Cavallo and Karen Doane (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) countered with a pair of quick goals for the Lions, but the Red Hawks remained in striking distance.

Midway through the half, Brianna Gillin (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) and Brocklebank each scored to make it 11-9 with 14:10 showing on the clock, but the Lions then won the ensuing draw control and Cavallo scored putting the difference back at three goals.

TCNJ controlled the clock for a majority of the remaining time with the Red Hawks adding their final goal with 1:44 remaining making the final, 12-10.

For TCNJ, Cavallo led all scorers with six points on four goals and two assists, while Gordon netted all four of her goals in the first half. Doane also added the hat trick for the Lions.

Brocklebank finished with four goals for MSU and DiBenedetto chipped in with a goal and two assists.

In goal for the Lions, junior Caitlin Gregory (Winslow, NJ/Eastern) finished with three saves, while Kristin Kuhmann (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) made 10 for MSU.

The Lions return to the field on Saturday, April 28 at Susquehanna University, while the Red Hawks host Manhattanville College on Friday, April 27.