By Jhett Laurie
Sports Editor
No. 24 field hockey stands at 3-0 within the New Jersey Athletic Conference. They find themselves tied for first with Rowan, who also sit at 3-0 with a 10-3 record. This comes after back-to-back wins against Kean and Ramapo on the road.
The team faced off against Kean on Oct. 7, with only one team able to preserve their 1-0 record within the conference. Ultimately, it would be the Lions who would come out on top.
The Lions played a strong game, dominating the Cougars through the first half. The team outshot Kean 19-2, forcing 11 saves. Graduate goalie Brigette Racey picked up a lone save in the second period. The stalemate was finally broken, with junior Nika Eschmann picking up the go ahead goal in the second period.
The Cougars got a lucky break early in the second half, finding the cage on a penalty corner. It didn’t take long for the Lions to answer, as just three minutes later, freshman Avery Gower took it solo into the circle and snuck it past the goalie to regain the lead for the Lions.
Kean struggled early in the fourth period to find some momentum, but as the minutes winded down, they found some light. Four penalty corners were attempted in the last five minutes, but Racey and the defense were able to hold it down in the back half to cement their win.
The Lions then headed up to Mahwah, New Jersey to take on Ramapo on Oct. 10. The team's offense was on fire, as they posted yet another 8-0 shutout victory. They came off the bus hot, posting two goals within the first eight minutes. Senior Kendall Justus netted her first goal of the season, and second of her career, four minutes into the game. She was followed by Eschmann picking up her first goal of the day.
Right before the first period ended, senior Jadyn Huff extended their lead to 3-0 on a penalty stroke. The Lions continued to crush the Roadrunners, not allowing a single shot on goal for the first half.
The offensive pressure from the College proved to be smothering, as they posted three more goals in the second period. Junior Prisha Dhruve scored her second goal of the season, junior Rachel Tetzlaff picked up her fifth and Eschmann picked up her second on the day.
The second half was one of many firsts. Ramapo picked up their first and only shot of the game. Senior Megan McGavin picked up her first collegiate goal early in the third period. Senior Ines Sawyer, an exchange student from England, made her first appearance at the College. Finally, freshman Natalia Simcak scored her first goal at the end of the game.
This victory puts the Lions at a 26-1 goal-differential over their last four games. Eschmann has now scored in five straight games, bringing her goal total to seven on the season, all of which have been during this stretch.
The Lions take on New Paltz on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. in Ewing, looking to improve to 4-0 in the NJAC.
