HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 15, 2008) – Top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology scored three times in the opening 14:27 of the game en route to 4-2 victory over fifth-seeded Kean University during the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Metro Championship on Saturday at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. Junior midfielder/forward Leslie Kallberg scored the first two goals of the contest for the Ducks, who advanced to Sunday's championship game where they will face second-seeded New York University at 11 a.m. in Hoboken. Stevens is seeking back-to-back ECAC Metro titles.
Kallberg got the Ducks (14-5-2) on the board first when she scored exactly seven minutes into the contest. Sophomore forward Katria Misilo dribbled the ball down the right seam to the end-line and crossed a ball to Kallberg, who tapped it into the net.
Then, in the 14th minute, Kallberg picked up her fifth goal of the season on a very similar play when senior forward Meghan Tennyson slotted a pass to Kallberg in front of the net. Less than a minute later, the Ducks were back on the attack as senior midfielder Audra Clark sent a lead pass over the top to Tennyson, who lofted a shot over Kean sophomore goalkeeper Leandra Russo (Galloway, N.J.).
The Cougars (12-8) were able to get on the board in the 27th minute when sophomore forward Samantha Ciccone (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.) found senior forward Amanda Pitts (Rahway, N.J.) on a run into the right side of the box. Pitts ripped a shot back across the goal-mouth and just inside the left post to cut the Ducks' lead to 3-1.
At 71:35, junior midfielder Alicia Vandersluis gave Stevens a three-goal advantage once again when she finished off a drop pass by junior midfielder/forward Erica Risch. Kean closed out the scoring in the 80th minute when freshman forward Danielle Esposito (Holmdel, N.J.) picked up a loose ball in the box and found senior midfielder/back Nicole Tahan (Clifton, N.J.) for a goal.
Freshman goalkeeper Kaitlyn McClymont improved to 6-2 on the year by making six saves for the Ducks. Russo allowed four goals and made one stop for Kean. The Cougars out-shot Stevens 16-12 overall, but the Ducks owned an 8-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Sunday's championship game will pit Stevens against NYU. The Violets reached the title game with a 5-4 win in penalty kicks against third-seeded Montclair after playing to a 1-1 deadlock after two overtimes. Earlier this year, NYU became the first team besides the Ducks to win the Stevens Engineering Cup title, which was being contested for the fifth time. The Violets won the title without playing Stevens by virtue of regulation wins over Ursinus College and Middlebury College. The Ducks went 1-0-1 in the tournament.
In 2007, Stevens and NYU played to a scoreless tie in the championship game of the Engineering Cup tournament. The Ducks retained the title for the fourth year in a row though with a 3-1 win in penalty kicks.
