EWING – The College of New Jersey’s field hockey team has never shied away from playing quality opponents. And for the 2017 version of the Lions, that means hosting a top five-ranked team (according to D3 National Field Hockey Coaches Association-NFHCA) for the second straight weekend. This time, it is in the form of the Salisbury University Seagulls.
The Seagulls and Lions have enjoyed similar starts to the season, as both teams entered the season ranked in the top ten of the original NFHCA poll and have each reached as high as third in the country. Swapping spots in the most recent poll, the Lions enter Saturday ranked third nationally while the Seagulls find themselves right behind TCNJ at the number four spot.
Each team has suffered their sole defeat of the season at the hands of the NFHCA number one ranked, Messiah Falcons. To match these teams up even better, each of those games ended with a 2-1 final score.
Since their loss to Messiah, the Seagulls travel to Lions Stadium sporting a three game win streak and hold an overall record of 5-1. The 4-1 Lions bounced back from the home opener, with a 1-0 Tuesday-night victory over Gwynedd Mercy University at Lions Stadium.
The shutout victory for the Lions goalkeeper Christina Fabiano, was her first of the young season and the fourth of her career. Fabiano is joined on the backline by All-NJAC and All-Region selection from a year ago, Elizabeth Morrison. Through the first five games, Morrison has tallied three goals and two assists.
Going into this matchup the numbers favor the Lions. Through five games, TCNJ has outscored their opponents 23-6 while averaging 4.6 goals per game, which ranks them sixth nationally.
Offensively the top scores for the Lions have been Tori Tiefenthaler, Taylor Barrett, and Sidney Padilla. Barrett has netted four goals through five games to go along with one assist-totaling nine points. Padilla’s four assists out of the midfield position, currently ranks her second in the conference.
Tiefenthaler enters Saturday’s game ranked atop the NJAC in both goals per game, as well as points per game. Her six goals on the year and 14 total points, ranks her sixth in the conference respectively.
For the Seagulls, they will rely on their seniors both offensively and defensively. On the offensive side the senior forward Natalie Wilkinson who leads the team with four goals and nine points. In goal for the Seagulls will be the senior Tressie Windsor has not missed a second of action this season and has recorded three shutouts through the first six games. Allowing just three goals through the first six games, Windsor’s 0.5 goals against per game ranks her 4th nationally in that category.
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