MONTCLAIR, N.J. (September 16, 2009) – Freshman Marguerite Chavez scored the second goal of her career with 2:26 to play in the first overtime period to lift the No. 20 Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team over Montclair State University, 1-0 on Wednesday night in Montclair, N.J. Chavez put in the game-winner after a nice feed from sophomore Jillian Price as the Ducks earned their second-straight win over a New Jersey Athletic Conference foe.
The game-winning play began when Price stole the ball from a Montclair defender deep in the Red Hawks zone and then passed to Chavez who was at the top left of the circle. Chavez controlled, spun left with a defender on her back and buried a rocket in the lower-left corner of the goal.
The two teams ended with 10 shots apiece, with Stevens taking the only attempts in overtime. Montclair held a 5-3 edge in corners as the game was extremely tight all evening.
Junior goalkeeper Ellyn Griggs and the Stevens defense recorded their second shutout in as many games. Griggs was credited with six saves and made some impressive plays in thwarting several good scoring chances for the Red Hawks. She, like the Ducks, is now 4-1 on the season.
Senior Jessica Ablonczy, freshman Christina Sedberry, and sophomore Mallory Swanson all played strong games for Stevens which has now rebounded from a 1-0 overtime loss to King's College with two-straight shutout wins.
In the second half, each team had one excellent chance. With 13:30 to play, the Red Hawks had a perfect give-and-go between Annalisa Valerio (Norristown, Pa.) and Melissa Flaherty (Fishkill, N.Y.). The two drove the ball to within 10 yards before Flaherty unleashed a shot that Griggs made a blocker save on.
Red Hawks' freshman keeper Megan Bosland's (Boonton, N.J.) turn came with a minute to go as Stevens earned its first penalty corner of the contest. Senior Erin Broderick inserted the ball to the top of the circle where senior Kara Borzillo blistered a shot that Bosland kicked away sending the game into OT.
Montclair (3-2) had its three-game winning streak snapped thanks to a stingy Duck defense and a timely play. The Ducks have a team goals-against average of .73, have not allowed a goal in 152-plus minutes, and are averaging 1.67 goals per game.
Stevens will return to action on Saturday, September 19 when it visits Nazareth College in the Empire 8 opener for both schools. Game time is set for 1 p.m. in Rochester, N.Y.
