Box Score
Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team netted a season-high 22 goals as the Lions overcame an early deficit to handled Eastern University 22-9 on Tuesday in their home opener at Lions' Stadium.
The win put the fifth-ranked Lions at a modest 2-0 on the season, while the Eagles dropped to 0-3. The 22 goals were the most scored by a TCNJ since the Lions netted that same number in a 22-7 win against Drew University in the 2005 NCAA Division III Tournament.
Trailing 3-1 with 24:53 remaining in the half, TCNJ's defense clamped down and allowed only two more goals the rest of the opening frame as the offense took over scoring often and in spurts.
The Lions tied the game with back-to-back goals by sophomores Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) and Kathleen Notos (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) tying the game at three. TCNJ didn't stop there as junior Ali Jaeger (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon) put the hosts in front for good at 4-3 with that tally coming at the 15:27 mark. Senior Lisa Seldeen (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) added to that margin quickly as she scored three times in just over two minutes bumping the lead to 7-3.
The Eagles later trimmed the deficit to 8-5 after a successful free-position shot by sophomore Courtney Reinhold (Adamstown, PA/Cocalico).
TCNJ took charge the final 7:25 of the opening period scoring seven straight goals with Mitchell scoring four of them and Jaeger added a pair. Sophomore Sara Keating (Upper Montclair, NJ/Montclair) added the other as the Lions carried a 15-5 lead at the break.
The Lions netted the opening two goals in the second period, but the Eagles countered with three straight tallies with junior Grace Griffin (Amherst MA/Amherst Regional) notching two of them.
The quick-strike TCNJ attack struck again with five straight with Seldeen starting the run followed by two goals each from Jaeger and Notos.
Jaeger boasted her second straight 10-point effort as she finished with seven goals and three assists, while Mitchell was right behind her with five goals and four assists. Adding to TCNJ's scoring depth were Notos and Seldeen with four goals each.
Griffin paced the Eagles with four goals and sophomore Kelly Dando (West Chester, PA/Henderson) netted three.
TCNJ goalie Mary Waller (Bel Air, MD/C. Milton Wright) notched seven saves in the victory.
In goal for Eastern, freshman Lindsey Corbitt (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) collected nine saves.
Both teams are back on the field on Thursday as TCNJ returns to the road for an afternoon game at Cabrini College, while the Eagles are open conference play at Misericordia University.
