XML Box Score with Phil Naegely, GoMessiah.com reporter
Ewing, NJ - The College of New Jersey scored four-straight goals to answer an early tally by
Moriah Pfautz and earned a 4-1 win over Messiah College. The Lions came into the ranked No. 9 in the nation; Messiah entered No. 13.
Messiah initially took the lead after 20 minutes of play off a penalty corner opportunity.
Celina Nissley connected with Pfautz who redirected the centering pass into the cage. However, the Falcons' lead would be short-lived as TCNJ equalized 4:17 later on a penalty stroke. Lexi Smith stepped-up and shot the ball past an out-stretched
Molly Gebrosky.
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The score was knotted at 1-1 at the half before the Lions exploded for three second-half scores. Just 31 seconds into the second-half, Lindsey Hatch put the Lions up for good and, 10 minutes later Erin Healy sent in a back-breaking goal to double the Lions' lead. Smith finished off the scoring in the 61st minute with her second penalty stroke of the night.
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On the night, Gebrosky made eight saves, while the Lions outshot Messiah 21-7. The game marked just the second time this season the Messiah defense allowed 20-plus shots to an opponent (Ursinus).
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The win moved TCNJ to 14-3 on the season while Messiah fell to 12-4. The Falcons also lost for the second-straight game, something that hasn't occurred since the final game of the 2001 season and the first game of the 2002 season. They will look to rebound when they host Hood College on Thursday, Oct. 31 in the final Commonwealth Conference game of the regular season.
