By Julie Kayzerman '16

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team stepped onto the field with the initials "PYD" for "protect your dream" written in sharpie on their wrists.

And that's what they played for, protecting their dream to make it to nationals in a hard-fought game as the Lions drove past Ursinus University, 11-1 at Lions Stadium at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 22. The victory lifted #4 TCNJ to 6-0, while Ursinus fell to 3-3.

The Lions came out tough, dominating the Bear's zone, swarming the net with shot after shot, but unable to get a point.

Just before the eight-minute mark in the first, it was junior Mia Blackman (Arlington, VA/Field School) who finally broke the seal, sniping the ball into the left side of the net off a free position shot.

But the Bears managed to hold the college at 1-0 for over 10 minutes until Blackman struck again with her sixth goal of season to give the Lions a two-goal lead with just under 12 minutes left in the half.

Coach Sharon Pfluger called a timeout for her team before Blackman's second goal and told her team to re-group, stop rushing, and read the situations.

"I was highlighting some things that we needed to do in order to break through the defense," Pfluger said. "Once we adjusted, then we started playing well, but it was hard fought all the way through. I was really proud of the girls for that."

From there the Lions seemed to find their stride, scoring three goals in a span of 2:35. Senior Cortney Natalicchio (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) kick-started the streak about two minutes after Blackman's point, dodging and faking her way through the Ursinus defense to add another Lion tally and her 17^th goal of the season with 10 minutes to go.

Just 2:23 later, graduate student Erin Waller (Washington Twp., NJ/Washington Twp.) netted one of her own. Elizabeth Morrison (Stonington, CT/Stonington) recorded the following draw control and charged the ball down the field for a swift Lion goal just 12 seconds later for TCNJ's fifth point. Morrison recorded a total of five ground balls, three draw controls, and four caused turnovers.

"I think we had a very hard-fought game and fought back," Waller said. "I think our defense played outstanding today."

Megan Devlin  (Marmora, NJ/Ocean City) closed out the half, 6-0, with a strike off an assist from sophomore Amanda Muller (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) with 54 seconds remaining in the first. From there, the Lions coasted through the matchup.

Blackman and Waller finished the second half with a hat trick and Natalicchio finished off with two goals. Morrison and Brooke Lionetti (Malvern, Pa./ Great Valley) scored a goal apiece and freshman Kathleen Jaeger (Whitehouse Station, NJ/ Hunterdon Central) marked her first score in her collegiate debut.

Freshman goalie Miranda Chrone (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) made two saves in the win on five shots, but Ursinus foiled her shutout, with a goal in the remaining 40 seconds.

"We are always happy when we come out with a win and it's good to know exactly what we have to work on to improve," Waller said.

The Lions take on Messiah College on Lions Stadium at 7 p.m. on Thursday night.