EWING, N.J. – Led by yet another impressive defensive display, No. 15 TCNJ Field Hockey (3-0) shut out DeSales (3-1), 4-0, in the home opener Saturday afternoon at the Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
The shutout victory makes it the third consecutive to start the 2022 season, marking the first time since the 1999 National Championship winning season that the Lions have accomplished this feat.
The defensive achievement was led by fifth-year senior
Dani Britton, who collected her second individual shutout on the season and posted eight saves in total. Six of the saves came in the fourth when the DeSales offense was on the front foot, doubling up TCNJ in the period with eight shots taken and four penalty corners. Despite their relentless efforts to break through the Lions defense, however, Britton's stellar goalkeeping managed to keep any shots from finding the back of the goal and the Lions scoreless streak alive.
On the other end of the field, the Lions offense dominated by finishing the game with both double the shots taken (22-to-11) and penalty corners (12-to-6) than the Bulldogs.
Senior
Kayla Cichlar scored the game's first goal late in the first period after Sophomore
Rayhanah Ahmed connected with her with a nice pass.
In the following quarter, the Lions added onto lead after 2021 All-American
Jess Hatch found the back of the goal for the first time this season off an assist from
Mia Lanzilotta, who would score herself just three minutes later in a solo effort. Lanzilotta finished the game with a game high six shots taken.
The final goal of the game came in the fourth, when
Claire Engebreth was assisted by Cichlar for her second goal of the season.
For DeSales, goalkeeper Kayla Yeatman finished with six saves of her own. Maddie Trocki and Tyra Wingle led the way with two shots on goal each, as both gave the Bulldogs offense quality scoring chances through the fourth.
Following the home opener win, TCNJ will head back out on the road to Cabrini on Tuesday as the Lions look to keep their shutout streak alive.
