EWING, N.J. – Led by an unstoppable offense, the TCNJ field hockey team defeated the Wilson Phoenix, 7-0, in round one of the 2022 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Tournament at home Wednesday afternoon.

The Lions combined for over 37 total shots and set up 24 penalty corners in a game that saw the offense dominate the ball on the Wilson side of the field for majority of the match. The relentless offensive display resulted in the Phoenix unable to attempt even a single shot nor have a penalty corner the entire game. The complete shutout for TCNJ marks the 10th overall shutout victory on the season.

The tone of the match was set early by sophomore Carly Cole, when she scored off an assist from fellow sophomore Claire Engebreth just 40 seconds into the match on a penalty corner.

The Lions would quickly go on a barrage of shots, attempting 15 in just the first 10 minutes of the first quarter. TCNJ ended the first with 16 total shots attempted, with the final shot attempt resulting in a score by Engebreth with four seconds left. The sophomore deflected a ball from Jess Hatch into the cage, giving the senior her 10th assist on the season.

Engebreth added on a quick second goal minutes later in the second quarter, this time off an assist from Rayhanah Ahmed on another penalty corner.

With less than four minutes left in the half, junior Mia Lanzilotta scored an unassisted goal through a crowd of Wilson defenders.  The Lions entered halftime with a massive four goal lead.

The second half saw the Lions nearly double the lead, with Hatch scoring her eighth goal of the season in the third quarter before junior Sophia Foschini and super senior Sophie Popp tacked on the final two in the fourth. Ahmed assisted on the first two goals of the half, giving the sophomore the first three-assist game of her career.

For Wilson, Hailey Steele recorded two defensive saves in the game. Senior goalie Allyson Shindler had eight saves.  

For the Lions, Cole nearly matched her career-high in shots taken that she set earlier in the season, finishing with eight (five on target) in the game.

TCNJ will travel out to Middlebury to play in the second round of the tournament on Saturday. The Lions will face Trinity (CT), who came out on top in their first round matchup against Catholic with a close 1-0 victory. The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.