HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 7, 2009) – The Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team erupted for five second-half goals and defeated Ithaca College, 5-0, in the semifinals of the 2009 Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship on Saturday afternoon at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. Freshman Nicole Pfeil scored the game-winner at the 59:08 mark and senior Kara Borzillo tallied twice as the top-seeded Ducks ended the contest with a 26-3 advantage in shots. Stevens (16-3) will play Washington & Jefferson College for the Empire 8 title on Sunday at 1 p.m.
From the start, Stevens dominated the game with suffocating defense and great passing. The Ducks went into the break with the score 0-0 but had a 15-0 advantage in shots and out-cornered the Bombers, 10-0. A huge reason the first 35 minutes did not see a single goal was because of Ithaca goalkeeper Chelsea Welsh (Scotia, N.Y.). The senior made 10 saves, several of the horizontal and diving variety and was absolutely phenomenal in the first half.
In the 60th minute, Pfeil tallied her first collegiate goal. The rookie controlled a loose ball at the top of the circle, made some nifty moves to the right and ripped a shot from 16 yards out into the lower-left corner of the goal. It was an absolute laser and really seemed to take a weight off the Ducks' shoulders.
Just 1:42 later, junior Lauren Griggs put the Ducks up 2-0 with a goal thanks to an assist from freshman Mary Nikish. Nikish controlled five yards outside the top of the circle after a broken corner. She started right, changed direction on a dime, and got into the left side of the circle. After a few more touches, the freshman made a perfect pass to an open Griggs in front and the Duck junior did the rest.
Sophomore Jillian Price gave the Ducks a 3-0 lead in the 64th minute when she tallied her third marker of the season with a blast from the left side of the circle.
Borzillo recorded the last two Stevens goals in amazing fashion. Freshman Marguerite Chavez carried the ball down the right sideline and angled in towards the net. Eventually she sent a bouncing cross from right to left that Borzillo was able to chase down with a full-out dive. Mid-dive, she took a swing, connected and put in her seventh goal of the season. Then, 4:09 later, Price took the ball from the top of the Ithaca striking circle all the way past midfield and sent a through-ball to Borzillo. The ball looked to be too far but Borzillo made a lunge and pushed a shot by Welsh for the score.
Stevens ended the contest with a 26-3 advantage in shots and out-cornered the Bombers (5-12), 21-2. Junior Ellyn Griggs earned the win in goal for the Ducks, making one save in notching her eighth shutout of the season.
Seniors Erin Broderick and Elizabeth Zmijewski, and freshman Sam Weisman continued their solid play along the Stevens backline, and once again, midfielders Jessica Ablonczy and Mallory Swanson were all over the place.
Washington & Jefferson and Stevens will meet for the second-straight time in the Empire 8 Championship final. Last year the Ducks won and have taken the last three meetings between the two schools, most recently a 4-2 victory on October 31, 2009 in Hoboken.
W&J defeated Hartwick in the other semifinal, 1-0, thanks to a second-half tally from freshman Jennifer Marabella (Sinking Spring, Pa.).
Tomorrow's title game is slated for a 1 p.m. start and all those unable to attend can follow the webcast live at www.PennAtlantic.com/main.php.
