EWING, N.J. – Julia Neff assisted on two goals – both by
Rayhanah Ahmed – and scored one of her own to lead the TCNJ field hockey team to a comprehensive 4-1 non-conference victory over Marywood on Wednesday afternoon.
Ahmed netted the game's first two goals in a span of less than two minutes bridging the halftime break, and
Jadyn Huff added a goal in the third before Neff capped the Lions' scoring with about nine minutes to play in a dominant effort against a Pacers team that has already clinched the top seed in the America East Tournament.
After conceding a corner in the opening minute, TCNJ piled on relentless pressure for the remainder of the first half. The Lions came within a whisker of scoring on several occasions in the first frame, first when a Pacer defender stopped
Mackenzie Hart's rebound effort at the post with an open cage calling, and again when Ahmed rattled the right post.
The onslaught ultimately paid dividends just before halftime, when Neff dribbled into the circle and sent a pass toward the cage for Ahmed, who controlled it and directed a reverse past the Marywood keeper to give the hosts a well deserved 1-0 lead with 1:10 to go before intermission.
That tandem struck again just after the resumption of play as Neff sent a pass across the circle for Ahmed, who scored in close on another reverse to make it 2-0 just 35 seconds into the second half.
Five minutes later, Huff stuffed in her own rebound to extend the lead to 3-0. After her pair of helps, Neff got herself on the scoresheet with 8:40 remaining, depositing Huff's cross into the back of the cage.
Marywood (12-6) broke up the shutout bid with 4:37 left on the clock.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- TCNJ racked up 22 shots to Marywood's five, and the advantage was 18-2 going into the fourth quarter
- Corner counts were more even, with the Lions holding a smaller 9-6 edge
- Huff put up a game-high seven shots (four on goal), while Ahmed took five and Claire Engebreth added three
- Maria Tomada paced Marywood with three shots
- Jenny Keagy finished with nine saves, and Liv Rosengrant had three defensive saves for the Pacers
NOTES
- Ahmed notched her fourth multi-goal game of the season and extended her point streak to three contests
- Huff netted her 10th goal of the campaign
- Neff's goal was her third of the year, and she recorded her first two collegiate assists
- Brigitte Racey made two saves between the pipes
UP NEXT
- The Lions wrap up the regular season at home against No. 2 Salisbury on Saturday
