On Saturday, August 31, 2024 the Stevens field hockey team went up against Ramapo College, and left with a 5-0 win. Along with securing the team’s first win of the season, head coach Meredith Spencer-Blaetz broke a program record. For 14 years, Jessica Reed held a record high for wins while coaching field hockey with 82 wins from 2004-2010. Spencer-Blaetz set a new win record with her 83rd career win.
The Ducks took a quick offensive position, outshooting Ramapo with 10 attempted shots within the first few minutes. It wasn’t until about 12 minutes into the first quarter when junior Gabi Moroney sunk the first goal with an assist from senior Makenna Quigley, making the score 1-0. This marked the first goal for the game and Moroney’s first for the season.
It was in the second quarter when the Ducks were able to double their lead on the Roadrunners. With multiple attempted shots from graduate student Julia Zatyko, it wasn’t until 20 minutes into the game when sophomore Taylor Brooks scored an unassisted goal, bringing the score up to 2-0. Despite taking 24 shots on Ramapo in the first half of the game, the girls were unsuccessful in scoring another goal in the second quarter.
It was only 36 seconds into the third quarter when Moroney scored her second goal of the game with an assist from sophomore Sophia Cozza, and Stevens extended their lead to three. Along with Moroney, Brooks also got her second goal of the game in the third quarter with no assist, giving Stevens the far lead with a score of 4-0. The final winning goal of the game was scored in the 53rd minute by sophomore Jess Kopernick with an assist by Cozza yet again.
By the end of the game, the Ducks come out with a shutout victory as a strong start to their season, the star players of the game being Moroney with 5 shots and 2 goals, Brooks with 3 shots and 2 goals, Kopernick with 7 shots and 1 goal, and Cozza with 4 shots and 2 assists.
Along with Spencer-Blaetz setting a new win record, the game had been monumental for the girls. Moroney had her second multi-goal game since scoring twice against Delaware Valley on October 22, 2022. Cozza had her first two assist game in her career, and for the first time since versing Lycoming College on September 17, 2022, the Ducks held an opponent shotless.
