COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The College of New Jersey field hockey team never trailed Thursday evening, remaining unbeaten with a 5-4 victory over Ursinus. The second-ranked Lions improved to 8-0 on the year, while the ninth-ranked Bears fell to 7-2.
 
The Lions opened the scoring just minutes into the game. Samantha Reed scored her second of the season, with an assist from Jillian Farley. TCNJ wouldn't remain in the lead long, however. Ursinus played in a long pass that was touched inside the arc. The bouncing ball ended in the bottom corner of the net to even the game.
 
Five minutes into the second quarter, Kayla Peterson played a high arcing lob into the attacking zone. Tori Tiefenthaler hit a high volley over the Bears goalkeeper that dipped under the bar to put TCNJ back in front. The Bears again had the answer scoring with a blast from the top on a penalty corner.
 
Early in the third quarter it was the Lions offensive penalty corner unit that came through. Jess Hatch made the insert to Kayla Peterson who ripped a shot that Hatch deflected over the goalie to put TCNJ on top for a third time. For a third time, Ursinus found the answer. The Bears scored off a penalty corner of their own.
 
Less than a minute into the fourth, TCNJ went on the offensive and earned a corner. Peterson took a shot that Cayla Andrews tipped into the back of the cage for a fourth time. Tiefenthaler added an insurance goal late in the game, making a sliding deflection of a long pass by Reed. The insurance goal game in handy as the Bears responded with another penalty corner goal in the waning minutes, but would get no closer.
 
TCNJ outshot Ursinus 24-12 and held an 11-5 advantage in penalty corners.
 
The Lions return home to begin conference play Saturday against Ramapo. Game time is 1 p.m.