Salem, Va … In an intense and emotional battle, The College of New Jersey suffered a 6-5 setback to Gettysburg College in the 2017 NCAA Division III Women's Lacrosse National Championship game.
 
The match between the two final teams standing in Division III women's lacrosse was a fight to the end with two lead changes in the final eight minutes of play. A goal by Steph Colson in transition with 2:57 remaining in regulation broke a 5-5 tie and gave the Bullets (21-3) their second national title in program history.
 
The Lions (19-2) showed tremendous resilience for the second straight day, overcoming a 4-1 halftime deficit. They rattled off four unanswered goals to take a 5-4 lead with 8:34 left in regulation. But Gettysburg evened the score less than a minute later and captured the victory on the game-winner by Colson.
 
Gettysburg executed early on offense with a pair of goals in the opening eight minutes. Following a timeout, TCNJ struck with its first goal of the game. Junior Amanda Muller (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) came around the left side of the net, spun away from her defender, and tucked a shot inside the right post to trim the Bullet lead to 2-1 at the 20:21 mark.
 
Just over five minutes later, Emma Christie found the back of the net off a free position for the second time. With 4:57 remaining in the half, senior Caroline Jaeger capitalized on a free position to build the Bullet lead to 4-1.
 
Free positions were a major difference in the opening half. The Lions held a 9-7 advantage overall in shots, but were 0-for-4 off free positions. Gettysburg converted three of its six attempts.
 
TCNJ came out with purpose after the break. Senior Mia Blackman (Arlington, Va/Field School) was fouled and beat goalkeeper Shannon Keeler off a free position shot to make it a 4-2 contest. Muller scored her second goal off a feed from Jaclyn Douglas (Malvern, Pa/Great Valley) to close the gap to 4-3 with 19:48 remaining.
 
Two minutes later, sophomore Kathleen Jaeger (Whitehouse Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central) put her talents on display, slashing through the defense and tying the game, 4-4. She struck again nine minutes later, cutting in from the left side to fire a shot past Keeler to put the Lions ahead, 5-4.
 
Gettysburg won the draw control and Courtney Patterson tied it up 5-5 just 58 seconds later. Following the goal by Colson with 2:57 remaining, the Bullets won the ensuing draw control and maintained possession to run out the clock.

Junior Elizabeth Morrison (Stonington, CT/Stonington) was a force on the field, causing three turnovers and picking up four ground balls. Sophomore goalie Miranda Chrone (Moorestown, NJ/Moorestown) also registered three ground balls and a pair of saves.
 
Following the completion of the game, three TCNJ players were named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Juniors Elizabeth Morrison (Stonington, CT/Stonington), Amanda Muller (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough), and sophomore Abby Flagler (Califon, NJ/Voorhees) were all selected by the NCAA tournament committee.