EWING, N.J. – The College of New Jersey field hockey team continued its torrid start to the season Tuesday, defeating Gwynedd Mercy University 6-0 at home. With the win, the fifth-ranked Lions improve to 5-0 on the season, while the Griffins fall for the first time in 2019, moving to 6-1.
 
TCNJ overwhelmed the Griffins early, pouring in four goals in the opening frame. Kayla Peterson opened the scoring, ripping a blast from the top off a corner for her third of the season. Tori Hannah scored back-to-back goals midway through the period. The first coming off a rebound and second off a strong drive and feed by Cayla Andrews. Hannah then made a long entry pass into the arc that Tori Tiefenthaler delivered into the back of the net.
 
"We were coming off a big win against Messiah," said Hannah. "We really wanted to keep that momentum going and didn't want to have to fight out of a 1-0 hole again."
 
After a scoreless second quarter, TCNJ again found the back of the cage in the third. Andrews made another strong drive to the front of the net. This time, the national leader in goals and points per game took the shot herself to give the Lions a five goal cushion.
 
Andrews would close out the scoring midway through the fourth quarter. Receiving a right to left pass from Tiefenthaler that she put into the net.
 
Maddie Beaumont did not make a save in the shutout victory, but did make a key play coming out of the cage to intercept a long pass before it could be touched by an attacking Griffin in the arc. The shutout is the second solo and third combined shutout for the senior netminder.
 
TCNJ faces another undefeated team next time out when it hosts fourth-ranked Salisbury University Saturday afternoon. Pushback is set for 1 p.m.