SWARTHMORE, Pa. - The TCNJ women's soccer team wrapped up its two-game road trip with a non-conference matchup against 14th-ranked Swarthmore Saturday night, using Elaina Williams' first collegiate goal to tie the Garnet, 2-2.
 
The Lions (2-2-2) struck first at the 7:49 mark with an impressive buildup ending in Alyssa Alfano's team-best second score of the season. A high press from TCNJ forced a Swarthmore (3-1-2) turnover in the midfield where Lexi Caruso found Abby Najdzinowicz. The senior combined with Ari Keily before sending in a cross that Alfano volleyed into the back of the net to give the Lions an early lead.
 
TCNJ had chances to double its lead in both the 11th and 16th minutes, but saw shots from Ava Visaggio and Maggie Murphy turned aside.
 
After the Lions largely controlled the opening 15 minutes, momentum shifted to the Garnet who found themselves with three corners in the span of three minutes. One save was all that was required of netminder Ellen Williams, however, to keep TCNJ in front. The sophomore made one more save in the half, with a team save in the 41st minute helping send the Lions into halftime up 1-0.
 
Swarthmore kept the pressure on to start the second half, forcing a trio of saves from Williams in the opening six minutes before an Ava Gizzie brace quickly turned TCNJ's 1-0 lead into a 2-1 deficit.
 
Now on the backfoot, the Lions turned up its aggression in the midfield, eventually drawing a foul at the 67:06 mark to which Elaina Williams stepped up. The sophomore launched the ball toward the box, with a misplay by the Garnets' goalie sending the ball into the goal to level things at two and give Williams her first collegiate goal.
 
Both sides created chances in the final 20 minutes but were unable to convert, with an impressive one-on-one save by Ellen Williams in the 84th meaning sealing the 2-2 tie for TCNJ.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Lions were outshot 19-15 in the contest including a 10-5 difference in shots on goal.
• Swarthmore also held a dominant, 12-1 advantage in corners.
• Williams made seven saves in the contest, her second-highest mark of the season.
• Alfano led TCNJ in shots (6) and shots on goal (2) in the contest.

UP NEXT

• The Lions are back home Tuesday, Sept. 16 for a match against 22nd-ranked Johns Hopkins, with kickoff scheduled for 6 p.m.