READING, Pa. – The Albright field hockey team gave the No. 2 team in Division III field hockey, TCNJ, all they could handle before ultimately falling 3-1 on Tuesday afternoon in Shirk Stadium.
 
With the loss, the Lions fall to 5-10 overall as they now set their sights on making a run at the MAC Commonwealth Tournament with four games to go in the regular season. Meanwhile, TCNJ improves to 12-0.
 
Lions junior goalkeeper Brynne Schoppe was put to the test right out of the gates as TCNJ ripped off five shots in the first 1:51 of the game. Schoppe then made one more big save on a tough shot following a TCNJ penalty corner. TCNJ got one more penalty corner following the previous one, and converted it with a one-timer off the initial pass. TCNJ continued to press throughout the first quarter, but the Lions held strong to keep the score at 1-0. The second quarter brought more chances from TCNJ, but they were unable to extend its lead following three shots that missed the target. Senior Kaley Donmoyer created a Lions chance in the 25^th minute and drew the Lions first penalty corner of the game. Albright nearly converted it as junior Bailey Lehman beat the TCNJ goalkeeper, but defender Lauren Cammarata had her stick down to make the defensive save.
 
TCNJ brought heavy pressure out of halftime as they registered seven shots in the first 4:42 of the third quarter. They finally broke through again at the 35:48-mark, when Cayla Andrews re-directed a sharp cross from the right side into the net to make it a 2-0 game. Andrews, the leader in goals per game in all of Division III, found herself in the right place at the right time in the 44^th minute when she scored her second goal of the quarter after the ball re-directed off her arm and into the net. TCNJ nearly extended the lead again in the 48^th minute, but seniors Kyra Scerbo and Abigail Lord made back-to-back defensive saves to keep the lead at three. The chances drew a penalty stroke for Andrews, but Schoppe made a big save to keep her at two goals for the game. Schoppe continued to make a flurry of saves throughout the fourth quarter to keep the score at 3-0. Albright broke the shutout in the 59^th minute when junior Jennifer Crumling re-directed a right side cross from Donmoyer in front of the cage to make it 3-1.
 
TCNJ held a 33-6 shot advantage for the game, and a 22-4 advantage in shots on goal. TCNJ also held an 11-3 edge in penalty corners. Schoppe put in a valiant effort, and matched her career-high with 16 saves in the full 60 minutes. TCNJ goalkeeper Maddie Beaumont made two saves in the full 60 minutes to earn the win. TCNJ came into the contest leading all of Division III with 5.18 goals per game, and this matched the fewest goals TCNJ has scored all season in a single-game with three after Messiah held the Lions to three goals.
 
The Lions return to action on Saturday, October 19^th when they will face Arcadia in MAC Commonwealth play at a new time of 2 p.m.