Box Score
Amherst, MA... Amherst College scored the game's final four goals to rally for an 8-5 victory over The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team on Sunday as the Lions saw their bid to reach the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament come up a few goals short.
 
The loss brought an end to TCNJ's eight-game winning streak as they finished the season with a lofty 19-2 record. Amherst is also 19-2 on the season and advance to the national semifinals on May 24 in Gettysburg, PA where they will take on Salisbury University.
 
Both teams knew goals would be at a premium with TCNJ ranked first in Division III in team defense and the Jeffs third. In the end, it was Amherst's defense that held its ground late as the Jeffs quieted the Lion offense allowing only two goals in the second half. They also didn't allow a goal in the final 18:26.
 
Fourth-ranked TCNJ held an opponent to single digits in goals for the 18^th time this season, while fifth-ranked Amherst accomplished that feat for the 19^th time.
 
The game was tied 3-3 at the half and the hosts grabbed the lead 10:04 into the second half when Rachel Passarelli scored a man-up.
 
TCNJ quickly not only tied the game, but forged ahead with two goals in 17 seconds. Junior Ava Fitzgerald (Merrick, NY/Calhoun) tied the game for the fourth time at 4-4 before senior Lauren Pigott (Jobstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) claiming the ensuing draw control and then putting the Lions in front 5-4.
 
That proved the final goal TCNJ would score with Krista Zsitvay getting the tying goal with 11:55 left in regulation. Passarelli then scored twice in 1:38 with the latter of those goals making it 7-5 with 7:15 showing on the clock.
 
Amherst added one last insurance goal with 1:24 to wrap up the win.
 
The teams played a very tight opening half with neither club leading by more than a goal. The Jeffs led 1-0 and 2-1 with Zsitvay scoring both goals for the hosts, while Pigott put the Lions on the board.
 
TCNJ's defense took over for the next 15-plus minutes by not allowing a goal and the Lion offense was able to strike twice. Junior Kendal Borup (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) tied the game and then sophomore Cortney Natalicchio (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) gave TCNJ its first lead at 3-2 with 16:07 left in the period. That goal came on an assist from senior Jen Garavente (Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.).
 
Zsitvay pulled the Jeffs back even with 3:38 on the clock to tie the game at 3-3, with that score holding until the horn for the half.
 
Freshman goalie Kelly Schlupp (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) turned in another solid effort with six saves.
 
Amherst goalie Christy Forrest also finished the game with six saves.
 
TCNJ adds to record for goals in a season
The five goals scored by the Lions gave them a school record 345 for the season. The previous mark of 329 was set back in the 2011 season in the same number of games. Fitzgerald led the team with 67 goals, while Garavente (63) and Borup (61) also surpassed the 60-goal mark.
 
Pigott collects career draw control record
Pigott collected a pair of draw controls against the Jeffs as she capped her career the program's all-time leader in that category. She finished with 281 to move past Alison Jaeger (2008-11), who had 279.
 
Talented senior class says goodbye
This marked the final game for four Lion seniors. In addition to Pigott and Garavente, defenders Jennamarie Colicchia (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) and Nicole Pineda (Wall, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) donned a TCNJ uniform for the final time.  In four years, this talented group earned 70 victories.