Box Score
Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey field hockey team got “homecoming weekend” off to a good start as the Lions recorded their third straight victory beating visiting Richard Stockton College 5-1 on Friday night at Lions' Stadium.
The win put the 11th-ranked Lions at 9-2 on the season and 2-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while the Ospreys fell to 0-2 in the conference and 0-9 overall.
TCNJ got the early jump on the Ospreys with a pretty scoring play as sophomore Kathleen Notos (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) carried the ball into the shooting arc along the far wing and sent a cross into the slot. Sophomore Caitlyn Jenkins (Mickleton, NJ/Kingsway) cashed in on that pass with a diving attempt to redirect the ball into the Richard Stockton cage for a 1-0 lead. That goal came 7:30 into the game.
The Lions started the second half with a flurry as junior Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) scored 4:47 into the new half with an assist from Alex Okuniewicz (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North). That goal gave Mitchell an even 100 points for her career at TCNJ as she is the 16th player in program history to hit that milestone.
TCNJ came back with its third goal of the game 38 seconds later as Notos bunted in a pass from Jenkins as the two players switched roles from the team's opening goal.
Senior Jessica Falcone (Cherry Hill, NJ/Camden Catholic) added back-to-back goals for the hosts as they increased the lead to 5-0.
The Ospreys spoiled TCNJ's bid for a third straight shutout as Susie Balidemaj (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton East) picked up her team-leading fifth goal with 53 seconds remaining.
Junior goalie Shannon Syciarz (Garwood, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) made one save for her ninth win of the season.
Richard Stockton goalie Debi O'Kane (Cologne, NJ/Absegami) had a big game for the Ospreys as she finished with 17 saves.
Senior Mary Waller (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) added a defensive save for the Lions, while Susanne Anzabi (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) had one for Richard Stockton.
TCNJ is off until Thursday, October 7 when the Lions head to third-ranked Messiah College for a 7 p.m. showdown with the Falcons, while the Ospreys remain on the road as they head to SUNY Purchase on Wednesday, October 6.
