EWING, N.J. – A double from Victoria D'Imperio and a trademark suffocating defensive scheme handed the No. 10 TCNJ women's soccer team a 2-0 victory over Bridgewater State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Lions Stadium on Saturday.
 
The still-unbeaten Lions (18-0-2) will take on No. 18 Johns Hopkins – a 2-0 winner over Southern Maine in the other contest of the day, at 1 p.m. Sunday for a spot in the "Sweet Sixteen."
 
After a relatively quiet first 25 minutes, the Lions struck first with a fortuitous bounce. Greta Bush's corner found its way to D'Imperio, who was unable to get her head on it but managed to direct the ball off her knees and over the line for the opening marker with 17:59 left in the first half. 
 
The Lions nearly doubled their lead about two minutes later, but Jenny Ward's left-footed attempt caromed off the right post and back out for the Bridgewater State keeper to fall on.
 
TCNJ had several near misses towards the end of the first half. Taylor Bielan had a hard shot saved at the last instant by Logan Levesque, who also managed to come out and snuff out Ward's touch on a beautiful through-ball from Caroline Mascone. Both went begging, and the Lions settled for a one-goal advantage at the break.
 
The hosts continued to threaten in the early portion of the second half, and Abby Najdzinowicz had a great look from the edge of the box off a centering pass from Ava Curtis, but Levesque dove to her right to snare the low effort.
 
A minute later, D'Imperio sprung free down the right side and rifled a shot inches over the crossbar. Ella Van Dine then sent in a nice cross from the right side of the box, but D'Imperio was unable to get enough on her header to trouble Levesque.
 
With 25 minutes to go, Curtis sent in a perfect cross for Taylor Krott, who ran onto it but was unable to generate sufficient power to get it past Levesque at the near post.
 
The second goal finally came with 16:30 to play, when D'Imperio headed in Rachel Burkhard's looping corner at the far post.
 
TCNJ came very close to adding onto the lead, but Levesque continued to turn away promising chances, and the Lions happily settled for a 2-0 victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ held a commanding 27-3 advantage in shots, and recorded the last 22 shots of the contest after a somewhat slow start
• The Lions notched five corner kicks to the Bears' four
• D'Imperio put up a game-high seven shots (four on goal), and Taylor Bielan registered five, including three on-target
• Najdzinowicz and Ward had three shots apiece
• Levesque racked up 12 saves
• Ellen Williams finished with one save for her 11^th solo shutout of the season

NOTES

• TCNJ notched its eighth shutout in the last nine games, and its second consecutive clean sheet in an NCAA opener
• D'Imperio upped her career goal total to 52, and netted her second brace in as many NCAA first-round games after a two-goal, one-assist performance against JWU last year
• The assist on D'Imperio's opener was the first of Bush's career
• Burkhard recorded her sixth career assist

UP NEXT

• The Lions and Blue Jays meet in a rematch of a high-quality 1-1 draw back in September, a titanic matchup of perennial powerhouses