EWING, N.J. – The College of New Jersey field hockey team remained second in the NFHCA rankings Tuesday before remaining unbeaten with an 8-1 victory over Eastern University. The Lions improved to 10-0, while the Eagles dropped to 3-9. The 10-0 start is the best for the Lions since 2015, when the team started 12-0.
 
TCNJ started strong offensively from the opening whistle. Just two minutes into the game, Cayla Andrews, the national leader in goals per game and points per game, made a centering pass to Tori Tiefenthaler. Tiefenthaler beat the Eagles goalie to open the scoring.
 
"Cayla Andrews is one of the backbone players of our team," said Tiefenthaler. "She is a leader on and off the field, and you can always count on her to make smart decisions."
 
Minutes later Samantha Reed dribbled to the top of the circle before hitting a backhand shot the found the back of the cage. Andrews then would score herself, firing home the rebound of Tori Hannah shot.
 
Before the first quarter was over, Emmalee Olsen scored the first goal of her collegiate career. The freshman made a centering pass to Andrews then made a run to the post where she gathered a return pass and dumped the ball into the cage.
 
Tiefenthaler took over in the second quarter. She scored her second goal of the game after receiving a stick to stick pass from Camryn Ley on the doorstep of the goal. The junior then drove the endline and found space five-hole to complete her fourth career hat trick.
 
"Once you score once, it just fires you up to score again and again," said Tiefenthaler. "It just continues to build and the more you score the more hyped you get. That energy spreads throughout the rest of the team too."
 
After Eastern responded with a goal early in the fourth quarter, TCNJ responded with a pair of goals to wrap up the game. Jess Hatch finished off a scramble in front of the net for her fifth of the season, then Tori Hannah stepped up when the Lions earned a penalty stroke as swiftly beat the Eagle goalie.
 
TCNJ out-shot Eastern 30-5.
 
The Lions begin a three-game road trip when they travel to William Paterson for a 1 p.m. start Saturday.