Ewing, NJ ... For the second consecutive year, The College of New Jersey field hockey team is headed to Lexington, Virginia. This time, it's to defend their national title.
 
The Lions (20-1) battled back from a one-goal deficit to defeat Messiah College 4-2 in the 2015 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Regional Championship. Down 2-1 entering the second period, TCNJ answered the bell with three consecutive goals to punch their ticket to the national semifinal game and continue their quest for the 12^th NCAA national championship in program history.
 
The Lions will square off against Middlebury College in the semifinal round. The Panthers (18-2) advanced with a 2-0 victory over Franklin and Marshall College. The other semifinal match pits against Ursinus against Bowdoin College.
 
TCNJ racked up 16 penalty corners in the game and tallied its final three scores off of corner plays. Freshmen Taylor Barrett (Neshanic Station, NJ/Hunterdon Central), Elizabeth Morrison (Stonington, CT/Stonington), and junior Lexi Smith (Florence, NJ/Florence Twp.) all registered goals in the second half.
 
It was a back-and-forth battle in the opening minutes. The Lions and Falcons traded goals 32 seconds apart in the first half. Senior Alicia Wagner (Hopewell, NJ/Hopewell Valley) wristed a pair of shots that were saved by Messiah goaltender Shelby Landes (Telford, PA/Souderton). Junior Danielle Andreula (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) collected the rebound on the second save and cashed in on her third goal of the season.
 
The Falcons responded quickly as Carissa Gehman (Holtwood, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) got free up top with open space. She was fouled in the box and awarded a penalty stroke. For the second straight day, she capitalized as Messiah drew even with 27:49 remaining in the opening period.
 
With 19:01 remaining in the half, junior Moriah Pfautz (Ephrata, PA/Ephrata) gathered her own rebound off of a defensive save to put the Falcons ahead 2-1. It was the 14^th goal of the season for Pfautz.
 
The Lions used the intermission to regroup and came out with purpose. Just under four minutes into the second half, the Lions netted the equalizer. On their third consecutive penalty corner, Alexa Magnota (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) laced a shot toward the left post where Barrett was positioned and she redirected the ball into the top of the cage.
 
TCNJ continued to pressure and regained the lead with 18:38 remaining in the contest.  Again off of a penalty corner, junior Jaclyn Douglas (Malvern, PA/Great Valley) sent a shot on goal that was blocked. Barrett followed with a shot that Landes came up with a kick save. Morrison followed with a quick wrister that rattled the back of the cage to make it a 3-2 game.
 
The Falcons made a few runs to even the score, but with just over 10 minutes left on the clock, Smith iced the contest. She took a feed off a penalty corner, worked her way to the right side, and buried a low shot in the left corner before raising her arms in celebration.
 
TCNJ junior Kelly Schlupp (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) collected one save in the game. Landes finished with four saves.
 
The Lions have won 11 NCAA Division III field hockey national championships. In 2014, they defeated Bowdoin College 2-0 in the national final.