Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey lacrosse team defeated Stockton University 9-2 in the semi-finals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament Wednesday night. The top-ranked Lions improved their record to 14-1, while the Ospreys dropped to 9-6.

TCNJ will now host Montclair State University on Saturday at 1:00 pm in Lions Stadium for the NJAC title. The winner of that contest will receive an automatic berth into the 2017 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

The Lions opened up the scoring on a goal from Allie Gorman (Sicklerville, NJ / Washington Twp.), who scooped a ground ball and went all the way to the net to put TCNJ in front 1-0 for the 14^th time in 15 games.

The Lions extended the lead on goals from Kristin Biche (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Bishop Eustace), Erin Harvey (Mt. Laurel, NJ / Lenape), and Mia Blackman (Arlington, VA / Field School). Olivia Cleale (Yardley, PA / Notre Dame(NJ)) assisted on all three of the goals.

Mary Schmid scored her 34^th goal of the season for the Ospreys to close the gap to 4-1 at the halftime break.

Cleale and Blackman took over in the second half for the Lions. Cleale scored on a free-position attempt then assisted on two consecutive Blackman goals ensuring no come back would ensue. Following a second Osprey goal Blackman scored two more to give her five goals in the game. This was the third straight game and fourth game this season in which she has tallied five scores.

Earlier in the evening, Elizabeth Morrison (Stongington, CT / Stonington) was named IWLCA Division III Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this year. She led a Lions defense that allowed just eight total shots with just four of those being on goal. That is the 12^th time this season the Lions allowed fewer shots on goal than the TCNJ offense scored goals.

Individually, Morrison scooped two ground balls to bring her career total to 201, just the fourth player in school history to cross the milestone.

Goalie Miranda Chrone (Moorestown, NJ / Moorestown) made two saves and added a caused turnover and a ground ball, while lowering her NCAA best goals against average to just 3.25.

In the other conference semifinal, the Red Hawks defeated Rowan University, 10-6. TCNJ won the previous match-up Montclair, posting an 8-3 victory. The Lions have won six straight NJAC titles and will look to make it seven on Saturday.