EWING, N.J. - The TCNJ women's soccer team wrapped up its competitive non-conference slate with a match against Stevens Wednesday night, using an SC-Top-10-worthy goal from Emily Weidner to earn a 1-1 draw against the Ducks.
 
The Lions (3-3-3) registered the first two shots in Wednesday's contest, but it was Stevens (2-2-4) creating the first real scoring opportunity in the 14th minute. Top scorer Alina Friz used her pace to get behind TCNJ's backline and create a one-on-one opportunity against netminder Ellen Williams, but the sophomore was up to the task, kicking the ball away to deny the Ducks the early lead.
 
Stevens saw themselves with another chance less than two minutes later, but a diving Williams kept the visitors off the board once again.
 
In what was a relatively quiet opening half for the Lions' offense – TCNJ registered just one shot on goal in the first 45 – their best opportunity came at the 25:54 mark following a nice individual effort from Weidner. The sophomore was the first to her own header down the right sideline, beating a Ducks defender before sending in a cross that found its way to Maggie Murphy with an open goal, but play was called dead after a narrow offsides call.
 
A myriad of fouls in the final 20 as well as a third save for Williams in the 41st minute sent the game into halftime knotted at zero.
 
Both sides found themselves with plenty of chances to start the second half, but it was Stevens capitalizing on a score from Molly McCann on a nearly impossible angle to take the 1-0 lead. That advantage was about as short-lived as you'll find in a soccer game, however, as just 86 seconds later it was Weidner scoring a beauty to level things at one.
 
Raquel Garces threw the ball in from the corner flag toward Abby Najdzinowicz, with the senior controlling the feed before sending a pass to Weidner. The sophomore turned into space and took two touches before firing a curling ball that snuck over the glove of the Ducks' goalie and tucked under the crossbar to make it a 1-1 game.
 
TCNJ got convincing chances over the final 20 minutes from Weidner, Ari Keily and Alyssa Alfano, but all three saw their shots collected as part of a four-save second half from Stevens' Kenny Donley.
 
The Lions continued their search for the game winner late, drawing a pair of corners in the 87th and 90th minutes, but could not convert on either en route to the 1-1 tie in front of the home crowd.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Lions outshot Stevens 17-9, but the teams finished tied in shots on goal at six apiece.
• The Ducks held a narrow, 8-7 advantage in corners.

NOTES

• Weidner's three shots on goal led all players and tied her career-best mark from a season ago.
• Najdzinowicz extended her team lead in points with the helper on Weidner's goal, now sitting at eight via three goals and two assists.

UP NEXT

• The Lions open up NJAC play Saturday, Sept. 27 with a game against Kean. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.