By Joseph Caruso
Sports Editor
The College’s lacrosse team kicked off New Jersey Athletic Conference play, bouncing back with a victory over Lebanon Valley on Saturday before defeating Montclair State for their first conference game of the season.
The Lions started their highly-anticipated 2026 campaign with six straight victories, playing five of them on their home turf before dropping their first game to Muhlenberg on the road last week.
The College would wrap up their quick Pennsylvania road trip when they traveled to Annville to take on Lebanon Valley on Saturday.
Eager to get the losing taste out of their mouths, the Lions started hot, scoring six unanswered goals in the first half, starting and ending with sophomore Kelly Nevins whose third goal of the game marked her 20th on the season.
The Dutchmen scored the first goal in the second half, but the College responded yet again, scoring another five unanswered to balloon the score to 11-1, before Lebanon Valley scored two more times before the end of the game, as the Lions held on 11-3.
Sophomore Abbie Teefy scored a career-best four times in the victory, pushing her tally to 12 goals in 2026. On the other side of the field, fellow sophomore Ashly Herlihy caused seven turnovers in a stellar defensive performance.
The College dominated this game from start to finish, outshooting the Dutchmen 20-6, and forcing a season-high 33 turnovers.
Looking to carry momentum from their bounce-back win, the College went back home to host the Montclair State Red Hawks in their NJAC opener on Wednesday.
The Lions came out firing, scoring eight of the first nine goals of the contest including 11 total in the first half. The Red Hawks had zero answers for Nevins, who looked invincible, scoring six goals in the first half.
Senior Marissa Lucca scored two goals as well, now sitting with a team-best 28 scores on the season. Teefy also continued her hot streak, scoring five times, which gives her nine scores in the last two games, after having nine total in the seven games prior.
In the second half, the Red Hawks attempted to claw their way back, but the College’s offense proved to be too mighty, as the Lions won by double digits, prevailing by a score of 14-4.
Coach Sharon Pflugler’s squad continued to win the shots and turnover battle, something that has been a recipe for success for the College. They outshot Montclair State 29-22, and won the turnover battle 24-18.
Now sitting at 8-1, this is yet another phenomenal start for Pfluger’s squad who continues to be a stalwart for the College’s athletic department, having racked up more wins than any other active coach for the Lions.
More than two thirds into the season, the College will travel up to Farmingdale, New York, to take on the Rams, before returning home to take on Kean on Wednesday, April 4, their last road matchup before a four-game homestand to wrap up the regular season.
