GALLOWAY, N.J. – The No. 22 TCNJ field hockey team rode a pair of first-half goals and another sturdy defensive effort to a crucial 2-0 NJAC victory at Stockton on Wednesday night.
 
Isabel Maher and Mackenzie Hart hit the back of the cage for the Lions (10-4, 4-1), which clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NJAC Tournament behind its fourth league shutout of the season. This one didn't come easy.
 
Brigitte Racey stopped all six shots that came her way, and Taylor Wielechowski was there for a defensive save on the one that got past her as TCNJ kept the dangerous Ospreys off the board all evening.
 
The Lions came out roaring, putting Stockton under pressure with three shots and three corners in the opening four minutes. The last of that trio of opportunities paid off, with Rachael Tetzlaff sending in a ball toward the cage and Maher knocking it in for an early opener.
 
Back came Stockton with a salvo, but Wielechowski's defensive save and a save by Racey on a penalty stroke prevented the Ospreys from finding a quick equalizer.
 
The game settled down after an action-filled first frame that consisted of nine shots and eight corners between the two sides, but the Lions still managed to double their advantage late in the second quarter. Lindsey Hoffman centered a pass from the right side of the circle, and Hart was waiting to punch it home for her team-leading 11^th goal of the season.
 
TCNJ limited Stockton to just two shots after halftime, both of which were saved by Racey.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ outshot Stockton, 14-8, and put 12 shots on cage
• The Lions racked up 16 penalty corners, a new season high
• Jadyn Huff led all players with four shots, all of them on target

STANDOUT LIONS

• Maher netted her second game-winner of the season, and the goal was the 15^th of her career
• Hart, the reigning NJAC Offensive Player of the Week, extended her goal-scoring streak to four games and her point streak to six
• Hoffman registered her fourth assist of the season, while Tetzlaff tallied her third
• Racey recorded her fifth shutout of the year, and third in her last five outings
• Wielechowski notched her sixth career defensive save

NOTES

• Racey is five saves away from the all-time top-5 at TCNJ
• TCNJ avenged a loss in Galloway in 2023, which snapped a 19-game winning streak in the series
• The Lions have won at least 10 games every season since 2010

UP NEXT

• TCNJ hosts Ramapo in Saturday's NJAC finale, after which the Lions will honor their four seniors on Senior Day