ROCHESTER, N.Y. (September 19, 2009) – The No. 20 Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team won by shutout for the third straight game on Saturday, defeating Nazareth College 2-0 in the Empire 8 opener for each school. Stevens scored both its goals in the first half as Kara Borzillo tallied in the 24th minute and sophomore Lauren Griggs scored at the 33:02 mark. With the win, the Ducks move to 5-1 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8. Nazareth falls to 3-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
Since falling to King's College in the final game of the Stevens Field Hockey Invitational on September 6, Stevens has not allowed a goal over the last 222-plus minutes of game time. Junior goalkeeper Ellyn Griggs made four saves in earning her fifth win of the season, and the Ducks' defense of seniors Elizabeth Zmijewski and Erin Broderick and freshmen Sam Weisman and Christina Sedberry were impenetrable. The Stevens midfield of senior Jessica Ablonczy, Mallory Swanson, and Borzillo has also been playing extremely well of late.
Stevens ended the game with a 14-8 edge in shots and an 11-3 advantage in penalty corners. The Ducks, who started the season ineffective on corners, have been generating better chances in recent contests and broke through with both goals coming off of the set plays in the win.
The game-winner happened when freshman Marguerite Chavez received the original pass at the top of the circle. The rookie, made one touch to control and slid a pass left to Borzillo who clobbered a shot past Nazareth goalkeeper Kelsey Evans (Penfield, N.Y.). It was Borzillo's team-high fourth goal of the season and Chavez's team-high third assist.
The game's second and final goal came after the ball was hit in front of the goal on a corner. A scrum ensued and Griggs was able to get her stick on it and put it home for the score. It was her first tally of the season.
Stevens was able to put 12-of-14 shots on goal as Evans ended the game with 10 saves.
The Ducks will return to action on September 23 with a contest at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. in Madison, N.J.
