Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey captured its third straight New Jersey Athletic Conference women's lacrosse title as the Lions posted a 17-9 win over visiting Montclair State University on Tuesday.
 
TCNJ has a perfect 4-0 record in conference play with one game remaining, but have already locked up the title. The Lions are 9-3 overall.
 
The loss snapped Montclair State's five-game winning streak and was its first setback in league play as they are 2-1 NJAC play and 10-2 overall.
 
TCNJ took advantage of their opportunities from the 8-meter arc, scoring on nine of their 15 attempts.
 
The Red Hawks opened the scoring 20 seconds into the game Kailee Beal (Succasunna, NJ/Roxbury) put the hosts in front as the game got off to a fast start.
 
TCNJ responded just 30 seconds later senior Jillian Nealon (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) tallied unassisted. That goal kicked off a four-goal burst by the Lions as led 4-1. Nealon score two of those three additional goals with sophomore Erin Waller (Washington Twp., NJ/Washington Twp.) getting the other.
 
The Lions eventually led 7-3, but the Red Hawks closed the game with three straight scores making it a one-goal game at 7-6.
 
Junior Lauren Pigott (Jobstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) and Nealon each added goals for the hosts in the final 3:20 to send TCNJ into the break holding a 9-6 advantage.
 
Junior Jen Garavente (Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) and sophomore Lauren Karpovich (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) each scored on free-position shots for the first two goals in the second half, but Montclair State fought back with consecutive scores from Kelly Schoneveld (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) and Kara Crampton (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon). Crampton's goal cut TCNJ's lead to 11-8 with 18:52 left in the game.
 
The teams again traded goals, but the Lions finished the game scoring the final five goals, while its defense kept the Red Hawks scoreless for the final 16:22.
 
TCNJ goalie Kelsey Zinck (Bristow, VA/James W. Robinson) played a role in that as she finished the contest with eight saves.
 
For Montclair State, goalie Tiffani Henderson (Landing, NJ/Roxbury) also had eight saves.
 
Nealon and Garavente each scored five times for the Lions, with Nealon also dishing out three assists. Sophomore Nicole Ham (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) contributed with her first goal in the Lion uniform.
 
TCNJ travels to second-ranked Salisbury University on Saturday for a 3 p.m. star, while Montclair State is home on Thursday, April 11 against St. Joseph's at 7 p.m.