Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey field hockey team triumphed in a rain-soaked game 1-0 over Gwynedd Mercy University Tuesday night. The Lions, who moved into third place in the coaches rankings released earlier today, improve to 4-1 with the win. The Griffins suffered their first defeat of the season falling to 6-1.
 
This marked the fourth previously unbeaten team that the Lions faced. The team is 3-1 in such games and a pair of NJAC opponents, Montclair State University and Kean University, could join the list later in the year.
 
TCNJ got the lone goal of the game late in the first half. The team drew a penalty corner just before the buzzer sounded and took advantage of the extra time as sophomore Kayla Peterson (Cream Ridge, NJ/Allentown) found junior Sidney Padilla (Suffern, NY/Suffern) who scored her second of the season.
 
The Griffins mounted a late comeback effort, earning a corner with just over five minutes to play. Brianna O'Connell lofted a shot over the sprawled out Christina Fabiano (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills), but Padilla was in position for the defensive save. Fabiano earned her first shutout of the season.
 
TCNJ earned 17 corners and conceded just four to the Griffins. TCNJ also out-shot Gwynedd Mercy 16 to three.
 
The Lions will now prepare for their next game a second top five showdown in as many weeks as the team hosts fourth-ranked Salisbury University Saturday at 6:00 PM as part of Parents and Family Day at TCNJ.