Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team took the first step for its post-season plans by locking up the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament following a 13-1 win over Stockton University on Tuesday.
 
The Lions are a perfect 5-0 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play, holding a one-game edge over Montclair State University. Both of those teams have one conference game remaining, but TCNJ beat the Red Hawks last week to claim the tiebreaker. By earning the top seed, the Lions will host a semifinal game on Wednesday, April 29 and a win in that contest makes them the host site for the finals on May 2. Overall, TCNJ is 12-3.
 
The loss dropped the Ospreys to 9-6 and they are 1-4 in the NJAC.
 
In a low-scoring first half, the Lions tallied first as senior Kendal Borup (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South) converted on a free-position shot. That goal came 5:43 into the game.
 
The Ospreys tied the game just over 10 minutes later when Skyler Mahoney-Kendra (Tinton Falls, NJ/St. John Vianney) scored on a feed from Sarah Brenner (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial).
 
TCNJ finished off the half scoring the final three goals of the period. Freshman Amanda Muller (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) score two goals 47 seconds apart, while sophomore Mia Blackman (Arlington, VA/Field School) added the final tally to make it a 4-1 game at the half.
 
The Lions had a fast start to the second half, scoring three times in the first 5:45. Junior Cortney Natalicchio (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) got the first of those, while Muller and senior Ava Fitzgerald (Merrick, NY/Calhoun) got the next two for a growing 7-1 lead.
 
After a timeout by the Ospreys, TCNJ scored 32 seconds later when Fitzgerald assisted on a goal by Muller. Fitzgerald kept the Lions rolling with three straight goals and Blackman and Borup closed out the scoring. TCNJ netted all nine goals in the second frame.
 
Stockton goalie Mary Stornes (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) finished with a game-high 12 saves.
 
TCNJ goalie Kelly Schlupp (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) made two saves for her 30^th career victory.
 
Junior Megan Devlin (Marmora, NJ/Ocean City) had another big game in getting TCNJ possession, finishing with six draw controls.
 
TCNJ wraps up the home portion of the schedule on Thursday, April 23 when they host Neumann University in a non-conference contest.