With the start of a new semester marks the start of fall sports. Stevens Field Hockey has started off successfully, with a 3-0 overall record and impressively only allowing two goals in three games, making this the program’s best defensive start to the season since 2008. Most recently, the team has defeated Moravian University with a score of 2-1 and No.18 ranked University of Rochester with a score of 2-1, after two rounds of overtime and a penalty shootout.
On September 4, the team won against Moravian at DeBaun Athletic Complex, marking the second victory against Moravian in only three games the teams have played each other. In the first three minutes of the first quarter, junior Makenna Quigley managed to get a penalty corner against Moravian, and she recorded a shot on goal that was ultimately blocked by Moravian’s goalkeeper. However, Quigley kept this offensive momentum going in the second quarter, and she scored the first goal of the game, assisted by junior Sarah Korczukowski. This marks Quigley’s second goal of the season and eighth goal of her career. Moravian added their first goal just five minutes into the third quarter, tying the game at 1-1 for the rest of the third quarter. Yet, in only two minutes into the fourth quarter, junior Emily Smart added the game-winning goal for the Ducks, also assisted by Korczukowski. This marked Smart’s first goal of the season and 16th of her career, and Korczukowski’s second and third assists of the season and seventh of her career. While the Ducks were very successful on the offensive end, it is also worth noting that sophomore goalkeeper Lily Wierzbicki made an impressive seven saves while in goal.
On September 9, the Ducks traveled to Fauver Stadium to play the No.18 ranked University of Rochester. It was a hard-fought battle that ended in victory after two rounds of overtime and a penalty shootout. After a scoreless first half, the first team to score was Rochester in the third quarter. This goal remained unanswered by the Ducks until the fourth quarter. With only three minutes left in the game, graduate student Lynda Farinella scored on a penalty stroke, tying the score at 1-1 and forcing overtime. This goal marks Farinella’s second goal of the season and 17th of her career. Neither team was able to score in the first or second round of overtime, forcing the game to go to a penalty shootout, where the Ducks would find the win. On the defensive end, first-year goalkeeper Maria Dante made 17 saves to ensure the win for the Ducks. This win marks the first win over a ranked team since 2013.
Following an impressive start to the season, the Ducks will face No. 3 ranked Rowan University on September 13.
