HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 8, 2008) – The No. 17 Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team demolished Ithaca College in the first of two semifinals in the 2008 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship at the De Baun Athletic Complex. The Ducks scored four second-half goals en route to an easy, 5-1 win over the Bombers. Sophomore Lauren Griggs had her second-straight two-goal game as Stevens controlled the final 60 minutes of game time. Ithaca's lone tally came from the stick of sophomore Mia Muzio (Rockport, Mass.). The Ducks will take on second-seeded Washington & Jefferson College in Sunday's final as the Presidents defeated Hartwick College, 2-0 in the other semifinal.
The Ducks (17-3) started off a little sluggish and had some trouble establishing the dominance they demonstrated during the entire Empire 8 regular season. The game was back and forth for the first 10 or so minutes, but that did not last long as Stevens started flexing its muscles with 25 minutes remaining in the first half. Shots started to come and the Ducks started building some momentum.
Stevens finally broke through at the 28:35 mark when Griggs scored her first. Junior Erin Broderick dribbled down the middle from just inside the Hartwick zone, took a shot, and Griggs was there to deflect it in. It was Broderick's fourth assist of the season.
Stevens went into the break with all the momentum and a 6-2 advantage in shots. The Ducks came out on fire in the second stanza. Just 4:35 in, Griggs scored her sixth of the season and fourth in the last two games. This time, junior Kara Borzillo dribbled in from the top-right of the circle, crossed across the mouth of the goal to Griggs who was alone for the score on the left post. It was Borzillo's 10th assist of the season and her league-leading 48th point.
At 43:57, senior captain Allison Shields scored her sixth of the year to essentially put the game away. She controlled just inside the top right of the circle and absolutely crushed a shot past Ithaca goalkeeper Courtney Dowell (Massapequa, N.Y.).
Ithaca's Muzio pulled the Bombers to within two at 51:02. Her second goal of the season was assisted by sophomore Christine Franz (Plainsboro, N.J.).
The Ithaca (8-9) tally seemed to re-energize the Ducks as they answered with a score of their own just 4:10 later. Senior captain Hillary Paul took a shot from the top of the circle, and sophomore Allison Basile was there to deflect it home. It was Basile's third goal of the year, and Paul was credited with her seventh assist.
Paul scored her 10th of the season for the fifth and final Stevens goal of the game. She took the ball down the right side, angled into the circle and blasted a shot by Dowell who had no chance whatsoever.
Stevens ended the game with a 16-5 advantage in shots and a 9-2 edge in corners as the Ducks seemed to grow stronger as the game went on.
Sophomore Ellyn Griggs got the win in goal for Stevens. She made two saves and is now 12-2 on the year.
Stevens will play No. 2 W&J for the Empire 8 title and a berth in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Hoboken. The two teams met on November 1, and Stevens came up with a big, 2-1 triumph in Washington, Pa.
