EWING, N.J. -  The TCNJ women's soccer team hosted Stockton in its NJAC home opener Wednesday night, nearly completing a dramatic comeback before eventually falling 3-2 to the Ospreys. The loss ends a 22-game unbeaten streak against Stockton that dated back to 2008.
 
TCNJ (4-4-3, 1-1 NJAC) found itself down early after conceding a fifth-minute goal to the Ospreys' Logan Shaw, but responded just over eight minutes later with a score of their own off the foot of Taylor Krott.
 
Ari Keily, Raquel Garces and Krott combined in the nearside corner before the sophomore found Caroline Mascone 15 yards out. The senior quickly inserted the ball to the far post, where Alyssa Alfano one-timed it to a cutting Krott who sent a volley into the back of the net, leveling the score at the 13:11 mark.
 
The Lions continued to control play following their goal, creating a pair of chances for Taylor Bielan and Keily in the ensuing minutes, but against the run of play it was Stockton (5-2-4, 1-0-1 NJAC) scoring twice in a three-minute span – one coming on a world-class effort by Shaw before the Ospreys' third came on a rebound by Kylee Reissek – to put TCNJ down, 3-1, 23 minutes into the contest.
 
Content with a two-goal lead, Stockton sat back for the remainder of the half allowing the Lions to fire off 11 shots in the final 20 minutes. Just two found themselves on frame, however, with Morgan Keil collecting both to send TCNJ into the break down 3-1.
 
Wednesday's second half got off to an auspicious start when Maggie Murphy drew a penalty in the 52nd minute, but Abby Najdzinowicz' effort was saved by a diving Keil to keep the deficit at two. The Lions rattled off eight shots over the next 20 minutes in an attempt to cut into the lead – three of which forced Keil to make a save – before finally striking in the 74th minute.
 
Emily Weidner did well to chase down a ball headed for the corner, beating a Stockton defender to it before sending in a cross. The sophomore's feed was blocked by the Ospreys' next line of defense, but fell to Alfano just outside the box, with the junior's shot finding the bottom corner to make it a one-score game and provide TCNJ with a much-needed spark.
 
The Lions continued to get shots on frame in the final 18 minutes in search of an equalizer, but could not sneak a third one past Keil en route to the 3-2 defeat.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ held a dominant 33-7 advantage in shots and a 13-4 lead in shots on goal.
  • This is the Lions' second straight game attempting more than 30 shots.
• TCNJ also took 10 corners to the Ospreys' one.
• Murphy took a game-high seven shots while Keily put a game-high three on frame.

NOTES

• Alfano moved into the top-20 in program history in assists with the 17th of her career.
  • This was Alfano's second career game tallying at least one goal and one assist.
• The home loss is TCNJ's first against Stockton in program history and is the Lions' first conference loss in nearly two years.

UP NEXT

• TCNJ is on the road to take on Montclair State Saturday, Oct. 4, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.