EWING, N.J. – The month of May always means postseason competition for the No. 6 TCNJ lacrosse team, and the Lions got off to a fast start in the second season with a dominating 20-1 victory over Kean on Wednesday in the NJAC Tournament semifinal at the TCNJ Field Hockey and Lacrosse Complex.
Six Lions scored multiple goals, and nine Lions in total registered at least one score. Larissa Hatzold led the Lions with four goals and with four ground balls. Jillian Westerby, Ally Tobler and Anna Wright each had three goals, and Katherine Naiburg and Kira Sides each scored twice. Tobler added two assists for a team-high five points.
The Lions had the game in the mercy rule early in the second period on Tobler's goal with 13:14 left. Sides scored with 1:07 left in the half to send the Lions into the intermission with a 15-0 lead.
Anna Devlin led the Lions with eight draw controls, and Sabrina Phillips had seven.
Devlin, Veronika O'Donnell and Madison Wernik all had a goal apiece. Wernik's goal in the fourth quarter gave the Lions a 19-0 lead before Kean spoiled the shutout with 8:47 left in regulation.
The Lions now move into the NJAC Championship game on Saturday afternoon at home against Rowan. The Profs were 15-6 winners over Stockton in Wednesday's other semifinal. TCNJ defeated Rowan, 14-6, on April 11. A win for TCNJ in that game will give the Lions their 12th consecutive NJAC title.
