Hoboken, NJ…Senior Jillian Nealon (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) scored four times to ignite top-ranked The College of New Jersey field hockey team to a season-opening 5-3 win at Stevens Institute of Technology on Friday.
 
The Lions, which are the defending NCAA Division III Champions, extended its winning streak to 15 straight dating back to this season.
 
The Ducks opened the scoring with 7:20 left in the opening half, but TCNJ finished with a flourish scoring three times before the half. Nealon got the first of those goals just over a minute after Stevens scored, while Erin Waller (Sewell, NJ/Washington Township) put the visitors in front 2-1 scoring with 2:29 showing on the clock.
 
Nealon made it 3-1 scoring as time expired in the half with Waller earning an assist on the play.
 
In the second half, Nealon completed the hat trick scoring her third of the game only 43 seconds into the fresh half.
 
After the Ducks closed to with 4-2, Nealon tallied her fourth goal of the game with Waller once again getting an assist.
 
The hosts added a final goal in the closing minutes making the final 5-3.
 
Sophomore Amanda Krause (Richboro, PA/Council Rock North) made three saves for her first collegiate victory.
 
TCNJ is idle until September 8 when the team heads to FDU-Florham to face the Devils at 1 p.m.