HOBOKEN, N.J. – Freshman midfielder Megan Legendre (O’Fallon, Ill./O’Fallon Township) scored with 8:30 left in regulation to rally Stevens Institute of Technology to a 3-2 win over Centenary College in the Skyline Conference women’s soccer championship game on Saturday at DeBaun Field.
Stevens (13-6-1) rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn its fourth straight Skyline championship. For the first time, the Skyline champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. Stevens earned an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament last season. Centenary falls to 12-7.
Centenary scored two goals in the first five minutes to take a quick 2-0 lead. Sophomore Jess Sikora slipped a slow rolling shot from the right endline through the Stevens defense and into the lower left corner of the net just 39 seconds into the match. The Cyclones added to their lead four minutes later when sophomore Michelle Barone picked up a loose ball in the penalty area and placed a shot into the lower right corner at 4:47.
Forced to overcome a two-goal deficit, Stevens pulled to within one midway through the first half. Junior Kim Mirra (Aston, Pa./Sun Valley) lofted a ball from 40 yards into the Centenary penalty area. The ball took a high bounce and sailed over the head of goalkeeper Michelle Burke at 29:49.
Centenary carried a 2-1 lead deep into the second half. Stevens finally pulled even with 15:44 left when Junior Rebecca Quinn (Damascus, Md./Damascus) sent a ball from the back into the penalty area and junior Valerie Barnhart (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) headed the game-tying shot over Burke.
The Ducks took the lead when Legendre, who entered in the 78th minute took a short pass from sophomore Jaime Mehnert (Waldwick, N.J./Waldwick), settled the ball and scored on a shot to the upper right side of the net at 81:30.
Stevens held a 20-6 advantage in shots and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks. Burke made eight saves for Centenary while freshman Erica Midttveit made two stops for Stevens.
STEVENS 3, CENTENARY 2
Centenary (12-7-0) 2 0 - 2
Stevens (13-6-1) 1 2 - 3
CC Jess Sikora (unassisted) 0:39
CC Michele Barone (unassisted) 4:47
SIT Kim Mirra (unassisted) 29:49
SIT Valerie Barnhart (Rebecca Quinn) 74:16
SIT Megan Legendre (Jaime Mehnert) 81:30
Shots: CC 6; SIT 20
Corner Kicks: CC 1; SIT 4
