NJAC Release

EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ women's soccer team will open the NJAC Tournament with a semifinal matchup at Lions Stadium on Halloween Night.

The Lions earned the No. 2 seed for the championship and await the winner of Saturday's first-round contest between No. 6 Stockton and No. 3 Montclair State. That semifinal clash will take place at 6 p.m. in Ewing.

Rowan claimed the No. 1 seed and will take on either No. 5 Rutgers-Camden or No. 4 New Jersey City in Glassboro next Tuesday. The semifinal winners will meet for the championship on Friday, November 3 at the site of the highest remaining seed.

TCNJ, ranked 15^th in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll, wrapped up the regular season with a 1-0 win at Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday, running its record to 13-2-1 overall and 8-1 in the NJAC. The Lions' lone conference loss came at the hands of Rowan, which finished 8-0-1 in league play to edge out home-field advantage.

The Lions, however, are the highest slotted team in the NCAA regional rankings, checking in at No. 2 this week; Montclair State, ranked 18^th in the country, is No. 3, and Rowan (ranked 11^th) is No. 4.

TCNJ handled both of its potential semifinal opponents in a three-day span earlier this month, routing previously unbeaten Stockton by a 6-0 count in Ewing before scoring an impressive 4-1 victory at then-No. 11 Montclair State. Victoria D'Imperio, the NJAC leader in goals (17) and points (40), scored twice in each of those victories.

The Lions have been one of Division III's most prolific teams this season. They rank 3^rd in the nation in shots per game (25.9), 5^th in scoring offense (4.19 goals per game), and 12^th in shots on goal per game (11.9).

Fifth-year forward Emma Pascarella is second in the country in assists (13), tied for the single-season program record, and D'Imperio ranks 17^th in goals and 18^th in points. Thirteen different Lions have scored multiple goals this season, with fifth-year Lindsay O'Keefe (8G/6A), first-year Alyssa Alfano (5G/3A), and junior Rachel Burkhard (5G/2A) helping to support TCNJ's dynamic attacking trio.

Defensively, TCNJ is 15^th in the nation in goals-against average (0.438), outscoring its opponents by a lopsided 67-7 margin in 16 regular-season contests. Supported by a staunch back line, rookie goalkeeper Bella Norman sits 14^th in Division III with a .402 GAA in 12 starts.