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Ewing, NJ…The College of New Jersey lacrosse team came into the 2018 season with one goal, finishing the job and capturing a national title. The road to the team's 15^th national championship begins this weekend as TCNJ hosts first and second round games in Lions Stadium.
 
The opening round game to be played Saturday features Endicott College and William Smith College. The Gulls won their second straight CCC Championship with an 11-9 victory in the conference championship game. This is the Gulls second straight trip to Ewing to open the tournament, having fallen in a tight 16-14 battle in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago. Jennifer Lacroix is the offensive leader for Endicott with 68 goals and 16 assists on the year. She had a pair of eight goal games against the University of New England and Salve Regina. In net, Bella Rino ranks fifth in the country in save percentage at .574 and eighth in the nation in goal against at 6.40 per game.
 
The Herons, who finished the year ranked 16^th in the IWLCA poll, earned their spot in the field with a 15-10 victory in the Liberty League championship game. The title is the third straight for William Smith. The Herons are looking to build off a quality run in last season's tournament winning a pair of games before falling 7-6 to Washington and Lee in an overtime thriller. Another strong defensive team, the squad ranks 10^th nationally in scoring defense and Jules Kennedy ranks ninth in goals against at 6.47 per contest. Melissa Moore tops the offense with 42 goals and 23 assists.
 
The advancing team will face the daunting task of matching up with the number one team in the country. The Lions have spent three consecutive weeks atop the IWLCA poll and is looking to complete unfinished business after falling 6-5 in the National Championship game a year ago. TCNJ won their eighth straight NJAC Championship with a 20-9 victory in the conference title game. Alexandria Fitzpatrick and Olivia Cleale starred in the championship game with seven goals and seven assists respectively. The pair also lead the Lions in those categories on the year. Cleale is fourth in the nation with 62 helpers this year, also the third most in a single season in program history. The Lions scoring has been balanced this season as Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Jaeger, and Allie Gorman each have over 45 goals. Amanda Muller finished with 30 goals and is second on the team with 13 assists.
 
For as good as the Lions offense is, the defense is where the squad wins games. For the fourth consecutive season, TCNJ boasts the nation's top defense allowing just 3.47 goals per game. Lions goalie Miranda Chrone leads the nation in goals against average and is sixth in save percentage. Four-time NJAC Defensive Player of the Year Elizabeth Morrison is eighth in the country in caused turnovers and is second in NCAA Division III history in the career caused turnovers and ninth in NCAA Division III history in career ground balls. Jaclyn Douglas had a solid senior season with 26 caused turnovers and 43 ground balls. Brooke Lionetti enters the tournament with 20 caused turnovers and 25 ground balls.
 
Saturday's game will have a 1:00 PM first draw and Sunday's game will also begin at 1:00 PM.