Senior Valerie Barnhart scored the eventual gamewinner for Stevens Wednesday night.

WAYNE, NJ – Senior Valerie Barnhart’s (Gilbertsville, PA) goal in the 30th minute proved to be the gamwinner as The Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team improved to 6-4 overall with a 3-2 victory over William Paterson Wednesday evening at Wightman Stadium in Wayne, NJ. William Paterson falls to 4-6 with the loss.

Freshman Jessica Megill (Clark, NJ) opened the scoring for the Ducks with an unassisted goal 4:02 into the match for her third score of the season.

William Paterson countered 14 seconds later with a goal by Katie Jo Cipriani to knot the game at 1-1.

Junior Cathleen Titus (Valley Cottage, NY) put Stevens back on top, connecting off a pass from Barnhart in the 22nd minute.

Barnhart scored a goal in her third straight game to give the Ducks a 3-1 advantage at the 29:04 mark of the first half. Senior Nilka Leon (Union City, NJ) found Barnhart, who put home the score for her eighth goal of the season.    

Cipriani’s second goal of the game two minutes into the second half brought the Pioneers within a score, but the Stevens defense held off William Paterson the rest of the match to preserve the victory.

Stevens made the most of its scoring opportunities, despite being outshot, 10-5.

Freshman Stephanie Smith (Hockessin, DE) had four saves in goal for the Ducks. Grace Browne and Jessie Mull split time in goal for William Paterson. Brown started the match, allowing three goals, while making one save. Mull played the final 41 minutes, recording one save without allowing a score.

William Paterson marked the fifth opponent this season that Stevens, which is in its second year of existence as a varsity sport, has avenged a loss they suffered last season.

Stevens returns home to play Kean on Saturday at 1 p.m. at DeBaun Field in Hoboken, NJ.