TRENTON, N.J. — Host The College of New Jersey on Tuesday dealt the Middlebury College women’s lacrosse team its first loss of the season, 10-6, in a matchup of two highly ranked NCAA Division III teams.
The No. 2 Panthers dropped to 6-1 heading into a Thursday road game at Montclair State. They will visit undefeated No. 7 Amherst on Saturday. No. 4 TCNJ, which earlier had lost to Wesleyan, a team the Panthers handled easily, moved to 7-1.
The Lions dominated Tuesday’s second half, outscoring the Panthers, 7-3, after a 3-3 first half.
Middlebury took a 2-0 lead on an early goal by Emma McDonagh, from Jenna McNicholas, and from Erin Nicholas at 11:13. But TCNJ was controlling play and went on a three-goal run between 7:13 and 2:09, getting a goal from Kathleen Jaeger and two from Olivia Cleale. McDonagh evened the score at 1:21 on a nice spin move from five yards out.
The Lions retook the lead on Cleale’s third goal 6:20 into the second half. McDonagh tied the game minutes later with a high shot from five yards out from the top of the crease. TCNJ responded with three goals, one from Jaeger and one each from Amanda Muller and Allie Gorman one free positions for a 7-4 lead at 16:19.
Goals from Kirsten Murphy and Georgia Carroll helped Middlebury cut the lead to 8-6 at 6:36, but the Lions closed out the scoring and became the first team to reach double figures on the Panthers this season. TCNJ earned advantages in shots (23-18), ground balls (31-19), turnovers (20-26) and fouls (12-25).
Panther goalie Julia Keith stopped four shots, and Lion goalie Miranda Chrone made four saves. Lion defender Elizabeth Morrison caused 10 turnovers.