EWING, N.J. – The No. 14 TCNJ field hockey team fought to get out of a second-half deficit but came up short in a 3-1 loss to visiting Messiah on Saturday.
 
The Lions and Falcons (2-4) played much of the first half in a scoreless stalemate until the visitors scored twice in a span of two minutes late in the second to take control.
 
TCNJ (3-4) pulled one back late in the third, when Rachael Tetzlaff saw her initial shot saved but funneled the rebound back in front where fellow rookie Julia Neff was waiting to tip it in for her first collegiate goal.
 
Now trailing by just one, the Lions had their hopes dashed with 10:10 to go in the fourth, when Kelsey Heltzel converted a penalty stroke for her second goal of the game and a crucial insurance tally against a TCNJ side that continued to press hard until the final whistle.
 
Tetzlaff was everywhere on Saturday, supplementing her second career point with a pair of defensive saves, including a stunning play in the first quarter when she leaped to knock away a backhanded scoop shot by Messiah that was ticketed for the upper part of the cage.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• In an even statistical tilt, Messiah had a slight edge in shots (11 overall and 7 on cage to nine and five, respectively, for the Lions), but TCNJ attempted one more corner (8-7)
• Heltzel paced all players with three on-target shots, while Rayhanah Ahmed led the Lions with four shots (two on cage)
• Eva Hancock made four saves for the Falcons, and Brigitte Racey had two for TCNJ

NOTES

• Despite entering with a 1-4 record, Messiah was ranked No. 5 to begin the season and has made the NCAA quarterfinals each of the last two seasons
• Tetzlaff's assist was her second of the season
• Neff's goal came on her first career shot

UP NEXT

• TCNJ heads to No. 17 Ursinus next Wednesday night