GENEVA, N.Y. - The Allegheny women's soccer team saw its season come to a close with a 3-0 defeat by twelfth-ranked The College of New Jersey in the opening round of the NCAA Division III National Tournament, hosted by William Smith College.

The Gators, who were making their second straight appearance in the national tournament, and fifth in program history, end the season with a 15-7 record.  The Lions, making their 24th consecutive trip to the NCAA postseason, improve to 16-2-1, and will now face defending national champ William Smith in Sunday's second round.

Allegheny got off to a strong start, and looked to have a prime chance to take an early lead, but a shot by Greta Hilbrands in the game's second minute hit the post.  Six minutes later, Hibrands again had a shot, but it was stopped at close range by TCNJ keeper Kendra Griffith.

The Lions shook off the early Gator surge, and scored the game's first goal in the 15th minute, taking advantage of a Gator foul just outside the box.  Jessica Goldman's ensuing free kick found the head of a leaping Christine Levering, who directed it into the cage to make the score 1-0.

TCNJ's offense continued to put pressure on the Gators, as the Lions took the game's next five shots, with Gator keeper Gabby Curtis turning in a trio of saves.  However, in the 32nd minute, Levering struck again, as she dribbled through the Allegheny defense and buried a shot from 15 yards out for her second goal of the day.

The Lions held the Gators without a shot for the final 30 minutes of the half, and ended the opening stanza with a 9-2 advantage in shots, with Curtis making three saves for Allegheny.

The Gators had the first corner kick and shot of the second half, but the Lions would add an insurance tally with 35 minutes left in regulation, when Levering scored her third goal of the day, again assisted by Goldman, to make the score 3-0.

Allegheny then looked to mount a comeback, owning the possession over the game's final 30 minutes.  The Gators were credited with five of the game's final six shots, but Griffith made a trio of saves down the stretch, and the TCNJ defense thwarted a solid Allegheny chance off of a corner kick in the 70th minute to preserve their 16th shutout victory of the season.

Allegheny out-shot the Lions 6-3 over the final 45 minutes, with Griffith posting three of her four saves in the second half.  Hilbrands and Jessie Thiessen were each credited with a team-leading three shots apiece, while Curtis ended the afternoon with four saves.

The defeat marked the final game in the careers of the Gator quintet of Curtis, Hilbrands, Tori Delzer, Faith Robinson, and Jaymee Wallace.  Those five players combined to lead the Gators to 47-28-5 mark over the past four seasons.  Allegheny earned a share of the North Coast Athletic Conference's regular season title in each of the past two seasons, while the Gators won the 2013 NCAC tournament championship, before finishing as the runners-up this season.  

The Gators' 15 wins on the season are the most for an Allegheny women's squad since the 2003 team also won 15 games, and is tied for the third most in a season in the team's 29-year history.