Ewing, NJ -- A showdown between two of the nation's top defensive teams turned into an offensive shootout with The College of New Jersey women's lacrosse team outgunning visiting Gettysburg College for a 17-13 victory on Friday. Heading into the game, the fourth-ranked Lions (8-0) led the country in team defense allowing 3.29 goals per game, while Gettysburg (12-1) was also ranked in the top five at 5.29.

Offense won as both teams put together impressive runs in the second half, but it was the host Lions that pulled away. With TCNJ carrying an 8-5 lead into the final half, Gettysburg had a fast start to the new period scoring four quick goals with senior Katie Ceglarski (Darien, CT/Darien) getting two of those markers.

The Lions then used their offensive balance to turn things around reeling off the next six goals coming off of the sticks of five different players. Freshman Alison Jaeger (Hampton, NJ/North Hunterdon) was the only player to score more than once in the spurt that put TCNJ in front 14-9. The Bullets trimmed two goals off of the margin as Krissy Browning (Baldwin, MD/Fallston) and Hollis Stahl (Hightstown, NJ/The Peddie School) each tallied making it a 14-11 game.

For the second time in the half the Lions put together a run with this one being three goals. Scoring in that run for the Lions were Kelly Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) Doane and Diane Haddeland (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac). Those goals returned TCNJ's lead to five with the Bullets adding two late scores to make the final 17-13. The 13 goals were the most allowed by the Lions this season, while the 17 tied the most given up by the Bullets.

The Bullets jumped out to the early lead netting the first two goals of the contest. Ceglarski opened the scoring before Stahl put the visitors in front, 2-0. The Lions came back with the next three goals with Leigh Mitchell (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) scoring first with senior Karen Doane (Bridgewater, NJ/Bridgewater-Raritan) picking up the next two. After Gettysburg tied the game, TCNJ went on a 5-2 run to close out the first half with junior Katie Reuther (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) collecting two of those during the Lion run. That run put the hosts in front 8-5 at the intermission.

Doane led the Lions with four goals and an assist, while Jaeger had three scores and one assist. In all, eight different TCNJ players scored a goal. For Gettysburg, Ceglarski led all scorers with seven points on three goals and four assists, while Browning had three goals and one assist and Stahl added two goals and a helper. Senior Caitlin Gregory (Winslow, NJ/Eastern) collected the win for the Lions making six saves. In goal for the Bullets, Kristen Krammer (Woodbine, MD/Glenelg) collected 10 saves.

The Lions return to action on Tuesday, April 8, hosting Mount Saint Vincent College at 7:00 p.m., while Gettysburg is right back on the field on Saturday playing at Haverford College.

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EWING, N.J. – In a match up of unbeaten teams and the top two defenses in NCAA Division III, something had to give, and unfortunately for visiting Gettysburg College it was their unblemished record as fourth-ranked College of New Jersey ran off a key 6-0 run in the second half to down the second-ranked Bullets 17-13 Friday evening.

Gettysburg (12-1), which had beaten TCNJ (8-0) during the regular season in each of the previous two years, entered the week ranked second in the nation in scoring defense with a 5.14 goals against average, just higher than the Lions' 3.67. Both opposing offenses topped those marks in the first half alone as the hosts tallied three of the final four goals to take an 8-5 lead at the break.

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2008-04-04