By Eddie Young
Managing Editor
The College’s No. 12 women's lacrosse team fell to No. 17 Stevens in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, losing 15-9. It was not a good day for the Lions, as nothing seemed to go right for them throughout the course of the game.
The Lions had a first round bye in the tournament, thanks to their stellar 14-4 regular season record and their New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship. Stevens played their first round game in Ewing on Saturday, May 10, utterly destroying George Fox University, who made the trip to New Jersey all the way from Oregon, by a score of 22-3.
While Stevens had been ranked slightly lower than the College, they had a very similar season to the Lions. They were 15-4 entering the tournament, and won the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom very comfortably.
The game started off very tight. The Ducks were able to score first very quickly, just over a minute into the game, but sophomore CJ Kole was able to get one back for the Lions, scoring her 50th goal of the season. The score at the end of the first quarter was 1-1.
Stevens went out and took control of the game at the start of the second quarter, as they scored four goals in a five minute span to quickly take a 5-1 lead over the College. Fifth-year Ally Tobler was able to stop the run, scoring at about the midway point of the quarter, but another Stevens goal would give the Ducks what felt like a commanding 6-2 lead at halftime.
Stevens came out of the second half in complete control, going on a 5-1 run in the first half of the third quarter, holding a comfortable 11-3 lead. Tobler would then try to take matters into her own hands, scoring two goals in quick succession, with one where she out-muscled the Ducks defense and the other with the help of an assist from Kole. Even with these goals, Stevens still entered the fourth quarter with a 12-5 lead.
Tobler was able to score her fourth goal of the game, nutmegging the Stevens goalie early in the fourth quarter, but a second yellow card knocked her out of the game with 11 minutes to go, giving her an unceremonious end to quite an illustrious career.
Sophomore Gabriella Roosa had two goals of her own to give the College some hope after Tobler’s exit, but it wasn’t enough with Stevens holding onto the ball to kill the clock, as the Lions lost 15-9.
It just wasn’t the day the Lions were hoping for, as it felt like nothing could go their way. Stevens dominated possession, as they won 20 of the 28 draws, and it felt they were generating better shots on offense the entire game.
Tobler will finish her career as one of the most decorated players at the College ever. Her four goals on the day gave her 82 on the season, the fourth most all-time for any Lion, and just four behind her own record of 86 set in 2022. She graduates as the College’s all-time leading goal scorer, with 306 in her career, the only Lion to ever score 300 goals.
“Playing here at TCNJ has been nothing short of amazing and I cannot imagine myself anywhere else,” Tobler, an education major, said. “I have the best teammates and coaches that have helped me accomplish such a huge goal of breaking a record and I cannot thank them enough.”
While it may not have been the ending to the season the Lions had hoped for, the NJAC champions have a lot to be proud of, and will look ahead to what should be another great season in 2026.
