EWING, N.J. -  The TCNJ women's soccer team has found plenty of success during the month of November in recent years, a welcome trend that continued in the Lions' NJAC Quarterfinal against Stockton Saturday afternoon in which TCNJ cruised to a 3-0, shutout victory over the Ospreys .
 
After dropping their earlier meeting against Stockton – the Lions' lone conference loss of the season – TCNJ (10-4-5) wasted no time jumping in front with the game's opening goal coming just four minutes into the action.
 
Raquel Garces ignited the chance by combining with Caroline Freer deep in Stockton territory before sending a cross toward goal. The senior's feed was weighted perfectly, sneaking past the Ospreys' (7-6-7) Morgan Keil and onto the head of 5-foot-2 Maggie Murphy, who sent the ball into the wide open net to give the Lions the early lead.
 
Murphy returned the favor in the 23rd minute, beating her defender down the left sideline and sending in a cross of her own that Lexi Caruso was first to, with the sophomore's second goal in as many games doubling TCNJ's lead less than a quarter through Saturday's contest.
 
The Lions kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of the half – TCNJ racked up four shots and five corners over the final 23 minutes – but failed to extend its lead further, carrying the 2-0 advantage into the break.
 
Murphy had a pair of shots sail just wide in the opening six minutes of the second half, but the third time was the charm for the sophomore who secured her first collegiate multi-score game with her second of the afternoon to balloon the Lions' lead to three with 15 minutes on the clock.
 
Taylor Krott and Julie Short tried to add themselves to the score column with a pair of shots on frame – both of which were turned aside by Keil – before the final whistle clinched the 3-0 victory and TCNJ a spot in next week's NJAC semifinals.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Lions held a convincing 15-3 lead in shots, including a 7-1 edge in shots on goal.
• TCNJ took all nine corners in Saturday's match.
• Murphy led all players in the contest in both shots (5) and shots on goal (3).

NOTES

• Murphy's brace moves the sophomore into third on the team with four goals. Her five points this afternoon coming via two scores and one assists are a career high.
• After not scoring in 11 appearances as a freshman, Caruso now has three goals in 2025.
• Ellen Williams was forced to make just one save in her seventh shutout of the season.
• The win was TCNJ's 10th of the year, extending their streak of with double-digit-win-seasons to 21.

UP NEXT

• The Lions are on the road to take on second-seeded and 11th-ranked Rowan in the NJAC Semifinal Tuesday, November 4. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.