On October 5, the men’s and women’s soccer teams went up against FDU-Florham for the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom opener at the DeBaun Athletic Complex, with both Stevens teams leaving with the win over the Devils.
For the 13th straight season, the women’s soccer team won their conference opener. By winning this game with a 4-0 shutout, they extended their shutout streak to 302 minutes in gameplay, as they have not allowed a goal since the 58th minute in the game against Rowan on September 28, and the team has reached a three-match win streak. The first goal was scored early on in the 11th minute of the game by junior Lauren Alley, marking her fourth goal in four games, an improvement from a total of four goals in her first 37 collegiate matches. Twelve total shots, including three on target, were made in the first half of the game by the Ducks while holding the Devils shotless. The Ducks’ lead was doubled in the 50th minute because of a goal by graduate student Nicole Angelini, her third goal in the last four games. A third goal was quickly scored by junior Sarah Wnorowski off a feed from Alley, making that her third goal in two games. The winning shot was scored by sophomore Luciana Rodrigues off an assist from first-year Alina Friz, her second of the game.
After the game, head coach Stuart Dick remarked, “It was great to have four different goal scorers, and that’s going to make us a very difficult team to play against.”
The men’s soccer team’s win improved the Ducks to a 13-0-1 all-time record against the Devils and marked their 21st conference opener win in the last 22 seasons. The first 40 minutes of the game were goalless for both sides, with a combination of two shots on goal and three yellow cards between the Ducks and Devils. It was in the 41st minute when the first goal was scored by sophomore Omar Martinez from an assist by senior Terry Thompson. The Ducks carried their 1-0 lead into the half. Sophomore Luke Carey scored the second goal of the game, making his fourth appearance of the season, with an assist from first-year Matthew Murillo. The Devils’ second shot on goal of the game ended in goal, cutting the Ducks’ lead in half. Despite this, the Ducks were able to keep the Devils from scoring throughout the last 23 minutes, ending the game with a 2-1 win. The win improved head coach Dale Jordan’s record to 58-11-12 all-time at home as head coach.
The men’s and women’s teams will be seen again in Center Valley, PA on Saturday, October 12, to face off against DeSales University to continue MAC Freedom play. The men’s team will kickoff at noon, and the women’s team will have a 2 p.m. kickoff.
