Ewing, NJ – The Montclair State University Women's Lacrosse team fell to #16 TCNJ 17-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals on Wednesday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (6-8) faced early pressure offensively from TCNJ, as JOEY GROTKOPF notched a key save in the opening two minutes of play. A few minutes later, the Lions generated a turnover that led to the first goal of the day on the resulting possession. After securing the next draw control, the home side doubled their advantage at the 10:45 mark of the period. As the clock ticked under nine and a half minutes, Grotkopf registered another stop, and following a TCNJ turnover, the Red Hawks scored on a goal from LEXI ROBINSON off a feed from AMRA LUKOVIC to cut the gap in half. The Lions scored on the next possession to counter, and added two more to expand their advantage to four two minutes later. CARA MCCARTNEY struck on an unassisted goal in the waning moments of the quarter to make the score 5-2 after 15 minutes.
• TCNJ rattled a shot off the bar in the first 30 seconds of the second frame, as the two sides battled defensively. After a scoreless first five minutes, TCNJ found the back of the net to expand the lead back to four with 9:10 on the clock. SAMANTHA HANDZO collected the next draw control, and after a green card on the Lions, Lukovic slotted a pass to McCartney for a tally. The home side countered by forcing a turnover, leading to a free position attempt and goal on the other end two and a half minutes later. TCNJ repeated that process with 2:42 remaining, capitalizing and scoring to make the score 8-3 going into the halftime break.
• The run continued into the second half, as TCNJ scored in the first three minutes to push the difference to six. Montclair looked to battle back, as they saw turnovers forced by LUCIANA FERRARA and SAMANTHA HANDZO, but the home side tightened up defensively to not allow a shot during that stretch. TCNJ struck again at the 8:32 mark and put another into the back of the net a minute later to push the lead to eight. The Lions forced another turnover on the defensive side, leading to another stretch in which they tallied a pair of goals, with the latter coming with 3:35 remaining, to make the difference double-digits going into the final frame of play.
• TCNJ scored on the first trip up the field in the fourth quarter, and capitalized on a turnover a minute later with another marker to push the lead to 15-3 with 11:49 on the clock. Lukovic and KAELEY SEK tallied a pair of shots shortly after as the Red Hawks looked to cut into the deficit, but the Lions came away defensively again, leading to a goal on the other end after a successful clear attempt with just over nine minutes on the clock. Montclair placed another pair of shots on goal, coming from SOPHIA PICCINICH and Sek, but the Lions notched saves on both attempts. The home side added a final tally with just under four minutes remaining to seal the playoff victory.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• McCartney recorded her ninth multi-goal performance of the season and fifth over her last seven games.
• Lukovic notched her first multi-assist game of the campaign. Grotkopf registered seven saves in goal for the Red Hawks.