Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team earned the right to play for its fifth straight conference title as the Lions rode a big first half to a 14-4 win over visiting Kean on Wednesday.
 
The top-seeded Lions (15-3) will host the New Jersey Athletic Conference title game on Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. against third-seeded Rowan University. The Profs (10-6) edged second-seeded Montclair State University 12-11 on goal in the final minute.
 
Kean finished its season at 7-10.
 
TCNJ scored nine of the 10 goals in the opening half and claimed its biggest lead of 12 goals in the early stages of the second period.
 
Junior Cortney Natalicchio (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) staked the Lions out to a 2-0 lead as she netted the opening goals of the game. The first came 4:16 into the contest, with the second coming only 48 seconds later.
 
Sophomore Mia Blackman (Arlington, VA/Field School) made it 3-0 and senior Ava Fitzgerald (Merrick, NY/Calhoun) scored in transition as the Lions bumped that advantage to 4-0.
 
The Cougars got on the scoreboard with 12:32 left in the half on a goal by Jordan Blanda (Neptune, NJ/Neptune).
 
TCNJ then scored five times in the final 7:30 of the period to extend the difference to 9-1 at the break. Senior Erin Healy (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan) started that run, while freshman Elizabeth Morrison (Stonington, CT/Stonington) ended the half with a flourish. The defender picked up her first collegiate point on an assist on a goal by Fitzgerald and 11 seconds late added her first career goal on a free-position attempt. That last goal came 1:37 before the half.
 
In the second half, the Lions scored the first four goals in just over 11 minutes. Freshman Amanda Muller (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) got the first score of the period with senior Kendal Borup (Plainsboro, NJ/West Windsor-Plainsboro South), sophomore Jaclyn Douglas (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) and Healy pushing that lead to 13-1.
 
Kean kept battling as they scored three of the final four goals to make the final 14-4.
 
TCNJ had a balanced attack with five players recording two goals each. Fitzgerald, Natalicchio and Muller all finished with three points.
 
Lion goalie Kelly Schlupp (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) picked up the win with five saves.
 
For the Cougars, Nikki Apostolopoulos (Yonkers, NY/The Ursuline School) made a game-high eight saves.