Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Two of the premier teams in Division III clashed at Clark Field on Sunday in a contest that came right down to the final seconds with second-ranked The College of New Jersey holding on for an 11-10 decision over fourth-ranked Gettysburg College. The Bullets (10-1) suffered their first loss of the season, while the Lions remained unbeaten at 9-0.

With three of the previous five meetings being decided by one goal, it was no surprise Sunday's affair had the same storyline, though Gettysburg did jump out of the gates fast and furious with the first five goals of the game. Junior Hollis Stahl (Highstown, N.J./Peddie School) picked up a hat trick in the opening 15 minutes of the game, while classmate Nina Emala (Baltimore, Md./Bryn Mawr) dished out two assists and scored a goal.

Facing its first multiple-goal deficit of the season, TCNJ held steady and eventually got the offense rolling with a free position shot by Lisa Seldeen at 13:48, kicking off a four-goal run to pull to within one with four minutes left in the first half. Stahl gave Gettysburg a two-goal advantage at the break with a free position shot of her own at 2:05.

Emala went solo for the opening score of the final period to stake the Bullets to a 7-4 lead two minutes in. The Lions quickly countered as Robin Deehan scored 17 seconds later and followed up with a free position goal at 25:19 to cut the margin to 7-6.

Sophomore Marnie Commins (Fairfax Station, Va./Robinson) finished in front of the goal with a low shot to put the advantage back to two at the 23-minute mark, where it remained for the next 11 minutes until TCNJ ran off a three-goal streak to take their first lead of the contest 9-8.

Fouled on her way to the cage, Emala tied the game with a free position goal at 9:28. With excitement building in the air and both sidelines urging their respective teams on, TCNJ jumped ahead as Rachel Gordon tossed in a one-timer from Katie Reuther at 4:35. The Lions added another goal at 1:13 as leading goal scorer Alison Jaeger made a move to the cage and posted her second goal of the afternoon.

Needing to gain ground in a hurry, junior Lexie Hearn (Old Greenwich, Conn./Old Greenwich) controlled the ensuing draw control for Gettysburg and raced all the way to the goal unopposed for a score at 1:02. The Bullets won the next draw control as well and were poised to tie the game with junior Jessica Crane (Sudbury, Mass./Sudbury-Lincoln) lined up for a shot to the right of the cage, but the Lions keeper, Mary Waller, jumped in front of the shot and knocked it way with her stick. The Lions cleared the ball up the field and successfully evaded the Gettysburg defenders until the final horn.

Statistically, both teams were even in nearly every category, with Gettysburg holding slight advantages in shots (28-25) and draw controls (12-11). The Bullets committed 14 turnovers, while the Lions posted 11.

Stahl led Gettysburg with four goals and three draw controls, while Emala posted five points on three goals and two assists. Commins tallied one goal and one helper. Sophomore Becky Lutz (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand) notched two ground balls and two draw controls.

Deehan led the Lions with three goals with Seldeen and Jaeger each tossing in a pair. Jaeger added four ground balls and three draw controls. Reuther posted three assists and paced the visitors with four draw controls.

Both goalkeepers put in superb efforts in goal against nationally-ranked offenses. Gettysburg keeper Kristen Krammer (Woodbine, Md./Glenelg) made a game-high 10 saves, while Waller stopped eight shots and scooped up three ground balls for TCNJ.

Gettysburg resumes play in the Centennial Conference with a home contest against Dickinson College on Wednesday, April 8, at 7 p.m.