Ewing, NJ... Salisbury University scored four straight goals to start the second half and then protected its lead as the top-ranked Sea Gulls handed The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team its first loss of the season on Saturday by the score of 9-6.
 
Salisbury held a narrow 4-3 lead at the half and then used those four goals to extend its lead to five before holding off a late Lion rally. TCNJ's bid saw them score three of the game's final four goals, but in the end it was the visiting Sea Gulls who remained undefeated.
 
The loss knocked the fourth-ranked Lions to 11-1, while Salisbury moved to 14-0.
 
With the guests holding that one-goal edge to start the second half, they netted three goals in the opening 10 minutes of the new period. The Lions appeared to have stopped that run with a goal 54 seconds later, but it was disallowed due to an illegal stick.
 
Leading 7-3, Salisbury then added its fourth goal of the period 36 seconds shy of the midway point on a tally by senior Shannon Carta (Annapolis, MD/South River).
 
Faced with an 8-3 deficit, TCNJ stormed back to make it an 8-6 game with junior Ava Fitzgerald (Merrick, NY/Calhoun) scoring from a tough angle and then senior Jen Garavente (Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) spun her way to the net for a goal.  
 
The third goal came when TCNJ forced a turnover on a Salisbury clear and senior Lauren Pigott (Jobstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) pounced on a loose ball and quickly deposited it in the open Sea Gull cage closing the game to 8-6. That goal came with 8:34 left.
 
Salisbury then added an extra insurance goal with 4:14 left as they prevented the Lions from getting any closer.
 
The first half finished with the Sea Gulls holding a 4-3 edge as the opening frame was tight from the opening draw. TCNJ struck first with a free-position goal from Garavente with that goal coming 7:08 into the game.
 
Salisbury used the combination of Bethany Baer (Westminster, MD/Westminster) to junior Shelby Nemecek (Marriottsville, MD/Liberty) on back-to-back goals put the guests in front.
 
Pigott pulled the Lions even midway through the period, but the Sea Gulls scored consecutive goals to move ahead 4-2.
 
Pigott closed the gap to 4-3 by the end of the half bouncing in a free-position shot with 2:58 remaining before the break.
 
Salisbury held a modest 11-7 edge in draw controls, but at one point held a 10-3 edge that contributed to its strong start in the second half.
 
TCNJ goalie Kelly Schlupp (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) finished with five saves, while Salisbury's Ashton Wheatley (Cambridge, MD/Salisbury School) collected six.
 
TCNJ returns to the field on Tuesday, April 15 for a road contest at Stevens Institute of Technology.