Jessica Megill scored two goals in the Ducks' season-opener on Sunday.

HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 3, 2006) – Sophomore forward Jessica Megill (Clark, N.J.) tallied two goals as the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team opened the 2006 season with a 3-1 victory over Eastern Connecticut State University as part of the Stevens Invitational on Sunday in Hoboken, N.J.  The Ducks (1-0) also received a pair of assists from junior forward Beth Rychcik (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) in the victory.

Megill opened the scoring less than four minutes into the game as Stevens capitalized on one of its 15 penalty corners.  On the play, freshman midfielder Kara Borzillo (Medford, N.J.) sent the ball to Rychcik at the top of the circle.  Rychcik found Megill, who ripped a hard shot past Warriors’ freshman goalkeeper Mindy Maher (Sherman, Conn.).

Stevens extended its lead to 2-0 at the 15:30 mark as sophomore midfielder Hillary Paul (Concord, N.H.) scored an unassisted goal on a rebounded shot in front of the net.  Just over three minutes later, Eastern Connecticut (0-2) climbed back into the game as sophomore defender Meagan Puzacke (Thomaston, Conn.) found junior forward Lindsay Raymond (Niantic, Conn.) for her first goal of the season.

The Ducks reestablished a two-goal lead with 72 seconds remaining in the first half as Megill scored off a pass from Rychcik on another penalty corner.  In the first half, Stevens out-shot the Warriors by a wide margin, 12-2.  The Ducks owned an 8-2 advantage in corners during the period.

For the game, Stevens out-shot ECSU 20-4.  Paul led the way with seven shots.  The Ducks also had 15 corners to just five by the Warriors.

Sophomore goalkeeper Stephanie Smith (Hockessin, Del.) was not tested often as she only had to make two saves in the contest.  Maher made nine stops for Eastern Connecticut.

Stevens will return to action on Monday when the Ducks take on Philadelphia Biblical University at 4 p.m.