MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Despite four goals and an assist from senior Erin Jaffe and a 42-20 shot advantage in the game, the TCNJ lacrosse team dropped its first NJAC contest of the season, 10-9, to Montclair State on Saturday afternoon.
 
Montclair State (2-0, 1-0 NJAC) jumped out to an early lead using a pair of goals from Amber Gonzalez to help build a 4-2 advantage. Jaffe's second goal of the game sparked a three-goal run for the Lions. TCNJ took a 5-4 lead into the half.
 
The Red Hawks scored five of the first six goals in the second half, with two more coming off the stick of Gonzalez, to take back control of the game and build a 9-6 lead.
 
Trailing 10-7, TCNJ (2-2, 0-1 NJAC) scored twice in a 31-second span to make it a one-goal game and had several possessions with a chance to tie the score. Red Hawk goalie Allyn Lilien made two of her 25 saves to thwart the first two TCNJ chances. The Lions took possession on final time, but an errant pass that went out of bounds with 50 seconds remaining would be the last time the ball touched a TCNJ stick.
 
The Lions held an 18-16 edge in ground balls and carried a 14-7 advantage in draw controls. Anna Devlin led all players in the game with seven draws for TCNJ. Jaffe, Kaela Sierra, and Ali Natalicchio each grabbed three ground balls to lead the Lions.
 
The loss snaps a 53-game regular season conference winning streak for the Lions.
 
TCNJ returns to action Saturday, April 10, when it hosts Rowan at 1 p.m.