MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The No. 14 TCNJ women's soccer team made a big statement on Saturday, scoring twice in the game's first 12 minutes and rolling in the rain to a 4-1 victory at No. 11 Montclair State in a battle of nationally ranked NJAC title hopefuls.
 
Emma Pascarella had a hand in each of the first two goals, tying the single-season school record with her 13^th assist on Victoria D'Imperio's opener as the Lions (11-1-1, 6-0) upended the No. 1 team in Region IV and put themselves firmly in the driver's seat in the NJAC regular-season race.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Lions put their stamp on the game right away as Pascarella set up Victoria D'Imperio's quick-strike goal with her record-tying 13^th assist, staking the blue and gold to a lead just 6:42 into the match
• Pascarella kept the Red Hawks (9-2-2, 3-1-2) reeling with a goal of her own just over five minutes later, a monumental 25^th career tally that doubled the Lions' advantage
• TCNJ eliminated any potential drama with another lightning quick goal in the second half. A steal near midfield precipitated a beautiful sequence as Pascarella was played in down the left side and dribbled into the box before finding a cutting D'Imperio. The junior's shot was stoned by the Montclair keeper but bounced kindly for Lindsay O'Keefe, who easily tapped home the rebound to make it 3-0 just over two minutes into the second stanza
• The Red Hawks got on the board in the 65^th minute, drawing a penalty kick after an attacker was upended just inside the box. Bella Norman managed to save Aileen Cahill's attempt with a diving stop at the right post, but the rebound narrowly escaped her grasp and an on-rushing Cahill was just able to poke it into the back of the net to break up the shutout
• With Montclair State still harboring some hope, D'Imperio slammed the door by roofing her second goal of the day on a pinpoint centering pass from Alyssa Alfano, restoring a three-goal advantage (4-1) in the 72^nd minute
• The Red Hawks rang the crossbar twice in the last 15 minutes but were unable to get another shot past Norman, who finished with four saves on the day

NOTES

• TCNJ's win avenged a 3-2 loss to the Red Hawks at Lions Stadium a year ago. Before that, the Lions had been unbeaten in nine consecutive meetings
• The Lions held a slim 12-11 edge in shots (8 on goal), while the Red Hawks notched seven corners to the visitors' three
• O'Keefe's goal was the 30^th of her career, while D'Imperio upped her career total to 32
• D'Imperio's brace was her fifth multi-goal game of the season and extended her career-high total to 15 for the campaign
• Saturday marked the Lions' first win over a ranked opponent this season; they previously had lost to then-No. 7 William Smith and played then-No. 4 Johns Hopkins to a 2-2 draw

UP NEXT
The Lions return to Lions Stadium on Wednesday to host Rowan in another pivotal matchup of NJAC unbeatens. First touch is set for 6 P.M.