EWING, N.J. – The No. 3 TCNJ lacrosse team wound up on the short end of a titanic tilt with No. 1 Middlebury on Thursday, dropping a 17-11 decision to the reigning national champions on a cloudy afternoon in Ewing.

Anna Devlin and Anna Wright registered four points apiece for the Lions (7-1), who suffered their first loss of the season in the finale of a six-game home stand. Jill Westerby netted a pair of goals to extend her career point total to an even 100 at TCNJ.

The Panthers got a huge performance from Jane Earley in evening the all-time series at 8-apiece between the two most successful women's lacrosse programs in Division III history; TCNJ (13) and Middlebury (8) have combined for more national titles than all other schools combined.

The Lions got off to a fast start, going in front just 19 seconds after opening draw as Katherine Naiburg set up a goal by Devlin.

Middlebury equalized a few minutes later, but TCNJ nosed back in front as Tobler picked up a loose ball in the circle and quickly slotted a shot past Panthers goalie Annie Enrietto for a 2-1 lead at the 10:46 mark of the opening frame.

The reigning champions began to wrest control of the game away from that point, reeling off five unanswered goals before Devlin's free-position scoop stopped the spurt and trimmed the deficit to 6-3 just before the midway point of the second. The Panthers went on another run, though, as Earley scored three consecutive goals in less than two minutes to stake the visitors to a six-goal lead, which Wright cut into with a free-position marker of her own as TCNJ went into intermission down 9-4.

Trailing by six again early in the third, TCNJ turned the tide with a trademark spree. Wright netted another free-position shot, and 14 seconds later Devlin caused a turnover and drove towards the circle before dishing off to Wright for a tough-angle shot at the left post. Tobler then converted a give-and-go sequence with Naiburg, trimming the margin to 10-7 and forcing a Middlebury timeout at the 10:02 mark.

Jillian Westerby saw the Panther defense part and she took advantage, driving right down the alley to net her first of the day and bring the home side within 10-8 with 8:12 to play in the third. Middlebury stopped the TCNJ momentum with a goal, and Natalie Berry scored on a nice individual effort and a bounce shot that hit the back of the net and made it 11-9 with 4:34 remaining.

Middlebury, however, started to regain command and finished the period on a three-goal run, heading into the final frame with a 14-9 advantage.

The Panthers continued to pull away with goals by Earley and Kelcey Dion, extending their lead to seven (16-9) as the clock wound under five minutes. TCNJ made one final push with goals by Devlin and Westerby, who notched career point No. 100 to get the hosts within 16-11 with 3:15 left.

That was all the offense for TCNJ, and Middlebury tacked on one more with 2 seconds remaining for the final score.

Earley, the IWLCA National Player of the Year in 2022, showed her mettle with six goals and a program-record 13 draw controls, frequently flipping the draw right to herself or to a teammate as Middlebury compiled a 21-11 advantage in a category usually dominated by TCNJ.

Middlebury outshot the Lions, 32-19, and racked up 15 caused turnovers on the defensive end.

TCNJ was highly efficient with its shooting, putting 16 of its 19 total shots on target and getting 11 of them past Enrietto. The Lions snapped Middlebury's 18-game streak of holding opponents to under 10 goals.

Devlin finished with four draw controls and Sabrina Phillips added three for TCNJ. Larissa Hatzold was a disruptive force on the defensive end, racking up a career-high five ground balls and causing two turnovers. Westerby had three caused turnovers and three draw controls in addition to her pair of goals.

Julia Charest was tremendous in the first half, and especially the opening quarter. She finished with 10 saves for the Lions, five of them coming in the first period and another three in the second.

TCNJ hits the road for the first time since March 4 next Wednesday, when the Lions head to The Battlefield to take on No. 9 Gettysburg.