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Salem, Va … The College of New Jersey will seek its first NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse National Championship since 2006 and 14^th in program history, when they square off against Gettysburg College today at 3:30 p.m. in Salem, Va. on the campus of Roanoke College.
 
The Lions (19-1) advanced to the title game in dramatic fashion, defeating Washington & Lee University 5-4 in double overtime. TCNJ held a lead in the game for less than four minutes, but found a way to come out on top in the end. The Bullets (20-3) defeated Trinity College by a score of 8-4, holding a comfortable 7-1 lead in the second period. Gettysburg is in search of its second national championship, capturing the NCAA trophy in 2011.
 
TCNJ VS. GETTYSBURG
 
These two teams have met in the national championship game before in 2006 with the Lions claiming a 10-6 win to claim their 13^th national crown. They were also on opposite sides of the Final Four bracket in 2011. TCNJ fell to Bowdoin College and the Polar Bears met up with the Bullets in the championship game. Gettysburg won its first national title with a 16-5 win.
 
The Lions hold a 16-5 all-time series advantage over the Bullets with the last five games being decided by one goal. That includes a 7-6 win by TCNJ on March 30, 2017. Entering the game, Gettysburg was the top-ranked team in the country with the Lions positioned one spot behind at number two. Lions' senior Mia Blackman (Arlington, Va/Field School) broke a 5-5 tie with a goal and junior Emily Kratz (Robbinsville, NJ/Robbinsville) netted the eventual game-winner. Gettysburg attacker Emma Christie scored four goals in the game.
 
OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE
 
Gettysburg is averaging over 13 goals per game and will test the Lions defensive unit. Balance is the key for the Bullets, as four players have compiled 30-plus goals during the season. Senior Caroline Jaeger leads the pack with 45 goals, while Christie has rippled the back of the net 39 time this season. Katie Willis has tallied 38 goals, and Katie Landy poses a double threat as a scorer and playmaker. She has racked up 33 goals and 43 assists this season.
 
TCNJ boasts the reigning National Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-American in junior Elizabeth Morrison (Stonington, CT/Stonington). Her reach and tenacity is disruptive to any offensive system. Seniors Ellie O'Neill (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) and LeeAnn Bak (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) have played a combined 124 games and will bring veteran experience to the title game. They will be joined by sophomore defender Brooke Lionetti (Malvern, Pa/Great Valley), who has started all 20 games this season.
 
The last line of defense for TCNJ is sophomore goalkeeper Miranda Chrone (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown). She leads the nation in goals against average (3.21) and has allowed just 14 goals during the Lions NCAA tournament run. Her ability to stop shots along with great stick handling skills has been a tremendous asset for TCNJ this season.
 
FAMILY FEUD
 
Taking the field for TCNJ at the attacker position will be sophomore Kathleen Jaeger. On the other side of the field, her cousin and senior Caroline Jaeger will line up at the attacker position for Gettysburg. Kathleen has the overall edge in goals with 51, while cousin Caroline has 45 tallies. (Both Jaegers lead their respective teams in scoring.)
 
Neither Jaeger, however, owns family bragging rights. That belongs to former TCNJ attacker and three-time All-American, Ali Jaeger '11. She is the sister of Caroline (Gettysburg) and cousin of Kathleen (TCNJ). Alli Jaeger is the all-time leader in career goals for TCNJ with 261 and single-season record holder with 86 goals. She also ranks second in assists (103) and points (364).
 
FAMILY FUN
 
TCNJ senior Ellie O'Neill will be playing for a national crown today. Her mother, Nancy Warren O'Neill '90, won lacrosse national championships for the Lions in 1987 and 1988. Ellie and Nancy will look to become the second mother/daughter combo to win national titles under Head Coach Sharon Pfluger '82 at Trenton State/TCNJ. Recent graduate Lexi Smith '17 and her mother, Gina Carey Smith, both won national championships in field hockey while playing for Pfluger.