Gina Crifasi's three-point performance against Farmingdale helped the Ducks reach the Skyline finals. |
HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 1, 2006) – Freshman midfielder Leslie Kallberg’s (Mission Viejo, Calif.) first career playoff goal proved to be the game-winner as the Stevens Institute of Technology women’s soccer team claimed a 3-0 victory over Farmingdale State University (9-7-2) in the semifinals of the Skyline Conference Tournament on Wednesday at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. With the win, the top-seeded Ducks advanced to Saturday’s championship game where they host second-seeded Manhattanville College in a rematch of last year’s title game at 1 p.m.
Stevens (14-2-3) broke a scoreless tie late in the first half as freshman midfielder Alicia Vandersluis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) found junior forward Gina Crifasi (Staten Island, N.Y.) in front of the net. After Crifasi’s initial shot was stopped by freshman goalkeeper Kimberly Sontag (Lynbrook, N.Y.), Kallberg jumped on the rebound and scored her fourth goal of the season to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead with 2:24 left in the period.
Just over five minutes into the second half, senior midfielder Heather Dean (Renton, Wash.) slid a pass through the Rams’ defense. Vandersluis settled the ball inside the box near the end-line on the left side and crossed it to Crifasi, who tapped the pass into a wide open net for her third goal of the year. Stevens added to its lead in the 66th minute as freshman back Katelyn Stewart (Manchester, N.H.) received a ball at the top of the 18-yard box and slipped a shot underneath Sontag for the game’s final tally. Sophomore forward Meghan Tennyson (Folsom, La.) and junior midfielder Cristina Fulgencio (Staten Island, N.Y.) collected assists on the play.
Senior Erica Midttveit (Jackson, N.J.) went the distance in net for the Ducks and picked up the victory as she made three saves. Sontag finished with seven stops for the Rams. Stevens out-shot Farmingdale 17-7 in the game and held a 3-2 edge in corner kicks.
Winners of six straight Skyline regular-season titles and all three postseason tournament championships, the Ducks can earn a berth to the NCAA tournament for the fifth year in a row with a win over Manhattanville on Saturday. The Valiants reached the championship game by virtue of a 3-0 win over third-seeded Centenary College on Wednesday.
Earlier this season, Stevens claimed a 1-0 win over Manhattanville in Hoboken on October 18. In last year’s title game, the Ducks rolled to a 4-0 victory.
