WAYNE, N.J. - The TCNJ women's soccer team was on the road for the final time this regular season to face off against William Paterson, scoring twice in each half en route to a 4-0 win over the Pioneers.
After having a pair of early chances denied by William Paterson's Sarah Mantilla and the left post, it was
Taylor Bielan opening the scoring in Saturday's match with her first of the season.
A strong run of possession by the Lions (9-4-4, 5-1-1 NJAC) saw
Alyssa Alfano beat her defender at midfield before carrying the ball into the final third. The junior sent a diagonal ball toward Bielan in the box, who took a touch and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to give TCNJ a 1-0 lead 11 minutes in.
The Lions would strike again through Alfano six minutes later, with the junior once again beating her defender down the right sideline before sending a cross toward
Maggie Murphy, who volleyed the ball beautifully over Mantilla and in to double TCNJ's lead with just over 17 minutes elapsed.
Hungry for more the Lions got shots on goal from
Abby Najdzinowicz,
Jenny Ward, Murphy,
Charlotte Hare and
Lexi Caruso, but TCNJ saw them all corralled by Mantilla as part of a six-half save for the senior.
Saturday's second half told much of the same story, with the Lions getting goals from
Caroline Freer and Alfano – both coming on assists by Murphy – to make it a 4-0 game less than seven minutes into the frame. TCNJ kept the offensive pressure on, holding the Pioneers (6-9-2, 1-5-2 NJAC) without a shot in the final 45 before the final whistle sealed the 4-0 victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Lions held commanding leads in both shots (23-2) and shots on goal (15-1).
- Murphy led the way with four shots, and was joined by Raquel Garces and Freer for the lead in shots on goal at two apiece.
NOTES
- Alfano's two assists push her career total to 20, moving her into a tie for 14th in program history.
- The junior also found the back of the net for the fifth straight game.
- Murphy more than doubled her season-long point tally in the win, pushing her totals to two goals and three assists.
- The goals for both Bielan and Freer were their firsts of the season.
- The shutout is the sixth of Ellen Williams' sophomore season and 17th of her career.
UP NEXT
- TCNJ is back at Lions Stadium Wednesday, Oct. 29 for its regular-season finale against 11th-ranked Rowan. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
