Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team opened the 2015 season with a victory as the Lions held off Fairleigh Dickinson University at Florham 11-8 on Friday.
 
The Lions (1-0) held a three-goal lead at the half and the teams then battled through an even second frame with the hosts maintaining that difference at the final horn. Both teams scored five times in the second half.
 
Senior Ava Fitzgerald (Merrick, NY/Calhoun) led TCNJ with four goals and junior Cortney Natalicchio (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) finished with the hat trick.
 
The loss evened FDU-Florham's record at 1-1.
 
The first part of the game was close with the Devils getting a 1-0 lead on a goal by Brienna Reasoner (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) opening the scoring.
 
TCNJ then reeled off the next three goals with Fitzgerald, Natalicchio and senior Kendal Borup (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) all scored in succession to give the hosts a 3-1 lead.
 
After FDU-Florham got two free-position goals by Courtney Rendinaro (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) to tie the game up at three all.
 
The Lions countered with the last three goals of the period with Fitzgerald getting the first of those to make it 4-3 with 11:06 left in the half. Natalicchio then gave the hosts three-goal advantage at the break scoring twice in span of 1:02.
 
The Devils scored three of the first five goals in the second half to pull within 8-6, just shy of the midway point of the half. The Lions responded with two goals in a span of 1:07 with Fitzgerald getting the first of those and senior Erin Healy (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan) the other.
 
FDU-Florham got those two goals back, but freshman Amanda Muller (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) capped the scoring with her first collegiate goal. That game sealed the win with 2:29 left on the clock.
 
Goalkeeper Kelly Schlupp (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) earned the win in goal for the Lions with four saves.
 
Rendinaro led the Devils with three goals.
 
TCNJ returns to the field on Saturday, March 7 when they host Neumann University at 1 p.m.