UNION, N.J. – Led by a multi-goal performance from sophomore Carly Cole, the TCNJ field hockey team upset No. 6 Kean, 3-1, on the road Saturday afternoon to collect their first conference win of the season.

A combination of Cole's offensive display, a dominant third quarter, and a standout defensive performance helped the Lions take the lead and never let up the rest of the way.

After a string of close losses, the Lions finally broke through against a nationally ranked opponent this season. Fittingly, the win came against an opponent who beat TCNJ twice the previous season and knocked the Lions out in the NJAC semi-finals in double overtime.

The first half of the game saw a defensive battle as both teams prevented strong scoring chances from capitalizing against each other. Lions goalie Dani Britton racked up six first half saves, and Shannon DeCosta aided her with two big defensive saves in the half. Goalie Jenna Fleming recorded 7 first half saves for the Cougars, one of which off a notable diving effort to prevent a score in the second quarter.

Lions broke the standstill with a little over three minutes left in the first half, after a perfect breakaway opportunity was created off two consecutive long passes connected and found Rayhanah Ahmed, who hit an uncovered Cole in the middle of the shooting circle for the shoot and score.

TCNJ entered halftime with the lead despite one fewer shot than Kean (12-13) and three fewer penalty corners (2-5).

The Lions added to their lead nearly six minutes into the second half when Cole scored her second goal from the top of the shooting circle after the ball shot just out of Fleming's reach.

Five minutes later, Ahmed added on a score of her own to give the Lions a decisive 3-0 lead. Receiving a pass from Jess Hatch, the sophomore shot the ball through a scrum of players from both teams to find the back of the cage.  

Kean outshot TCNJ 10-1 in the fourth quarter and scored a goal to prevent the shutout, but it was ultimately too little too late as the Lions held on.

Cole's four goals off the bench this season is the most by a Lion since Tori Hannah scored six as a reserve in 2018. Britton finished the match with a career-high 14 saves, sixth-most by a Lions goalie since the stat was fully tracked in 2002. Ahmed finished with four shots on goal and Popp finished with two of her own.

Following the victory, TCNJ will look to wrap up nonconference play this Tuesday in a road matchup against the Gettysburg Bullets at 3:00 p.m.