Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y. – Neither rain nor the Manhattanville women's lacrosse team could pose much of a threat to The College of New Jersey, ranked fifth in the latest IWLCA Div. III national poll, this evening as the Lions cruised to a 19-3 win in the Valiants' non-conference finale on a rainy Thursday night at GoValiants.com Field.
 
It was a tough night for Manhattanville against the nationally ranked Lions, as the Valiants managed only 14 shots (eight on goal) against a very stingy TCNJ defense. Junior Maggie Howley (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal Dougherty) still managed to score twice, extending her streak of games with a goal to 14 to begin her Valiant career, while sophomore Britney Themistocles (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) also found the net for the home team.
 
Alex Spark was the high scorer for TCNJ in the win, scoring four times and assisting on seven for an 11-point night. Kathleen Notos added a game-high five goals while D-III assist leader Leigh Mitchell added seven more helpers as well for the Lions.
 
Spark got the game started with two goals in the first 77 seconds to put the visitors up by a pair, and the Lions did not let up for the remainder of the half, eventually taking a 13-0 edge into the break. TCNJ added on the first four goals of the second half before Themistocles broke up the shutout bid with her 14th of the year with 12:22 remaining. Howley added a pair of unassisted tallies less than two minutes apart later in the frame to complete the Valiant scoring.
 
Manhattanville as a team held the Lions to only 22 shots on the evening, but 21 of those went on goal and 19 found the back of the cage. Junior Emy Cote (Saint-Hubert, Quebec/Dawson College) had two saves and allowed 16 goals in 51:27 of action, while senior Liz Cooper (Old Greenwich, Conn./The Forman School) ceded three goals in 8:33 during the second half. TCNJ keepers Kelsey Zinck and Camille Passucci split time in goal, as Zinck made four saves on four shots in the first half and Paccucci stopped one of three attempts in the second frame.
 
Manhattanville (3-12) will put the loss behind them and get ready for its biggest game of the year on Saturday, as the Valiants play for a berth in the Freedom Conference Tournament while also honoring their five graduating players on Senior Day against Wilkes beginning at 1 p.m. at GoValiants.com Field. The game will be video streamed live on GoValiants.TV beginning at 12:55 p.m.