NCAA Bracket

EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ women's lacrosse team is once again set to begin its NCAA Tournament journey in the friendly confines of home turf.
 
The 14^th-ranked Lions were selected as a host of an opening round pod for the fifth consecutive season when the NCAA field was revealed on Monday, and will welcome No. 16 Messiah and Worcester State to the Lacrosse & Field Hockey Complex this weekend.
 
TCNJ received a bye to Sunday's second round and will await the winner of the first-round clash between the Falcons and Lancers. Both games will start at 1 p.m.
 
The Lions (16-2) are fresh off their 15^th consecutive NJAC title over the weekend, rallying from a second-half deficit to edge Rowan, 10-7, and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the 40^th consecutive season.
 
NJAC Attack Player of the Year Marissa Lucca leads the Lions into the national tournament, with her 123 points (73 goals, 50 assists) already tied for second-most in a single season in the history of the program. With All-NJAC honorees Kelly Nevins (57G/18A) and CJ Kole (39G/18A) as well as Abbie Teefy (35G/13A), Lucca has plenty of firepower to support her.
 
First-team all-conference standout Emily Potenza (51 GB, 38 DC, 28 CT) controls the midfield alongside senior stalwarts Meghan Hogan and Sydney Sieja, while All-NJAC rookie Abby Williams (57 CT, 51 GB) teams with Ashly Herlihy (51 GB, 41 CT), Mckenah Schilp (18 GB, 11 CT), and Maria LaPietra (13 GB, 10 CT) to form a stifling defensive unit. That wall is backstopped by NJAC Goaltender of the Year Hailey Wexler, who ranks in the top-10 in Division III in goals-against average (5.55, 6^th) and save percentage (.517, 7^th).
 
As a team, TCNJ is in the top-10 nationally in scoring defense (5.50, 7^th) and caused turnovers per game (14.61, 9^th).
 
The Lions will be looking to reverse recent history, having lost at home in the second round in each of the last two NCAA Tournaments. Wexler was on the last team to make the Final Four, in 2022, and TCNJ advanced at least to the quarterfinals every year from 1986 to 2019 under Pfluger.
 
TCNJ owns 13 NCAA championships, the most in NCAA history. Middlebury, the four-time reigning national champion, is second with 11.
 
Messiah (14-5) earned an at-large bid after falling to York (Pa.), 11-5, in the MAC Commonwealth championship game last weekend. The Falcons advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2025.
 
Worcester State won the MASCAC in thrilling fashion, walking off Westfield State, 14-13, in overtime in the conference final on a goal by Madigan Kelly. The Lancers trailed 13-10 with four minutes to go before forcing the extra session on a goal by MASCAC Player of the Year Mckayla Fisher with 18 seconds left in regulation. They are making their second NCAA Tournament appearance in as many seasons, dropping a 21-9 decision to Babson in the first round a year ago.