HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 26, 2009) – Sophomore Kathleen Schuckers, junior Katria Misilo and freshman Teegan Kelly all netted goals to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team to its first win of the season with a 3-0 victory over Empire 8 rival Elmira College at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. The Ducks have now evened their league ledger at 1-1-0 (1-8-0 overall), while the Soaring Eagles fall to 1-3-0 (3-5-0 overall) in conference play.
Stevens, which held a decisive 11-4 shot advantage in the first half, would apply pressure from the opening whistle, with junior Mary Chew firing the Ducks' first shot wide right in the fourth minute of action. Chew would send another shot wide right from the top of the box in the ninth minute, before Schuckers settled a Katelyn Stewart cross off a free-kick down in the middle of the box, eluding two Elmira defenders before sending a shot past goalkeeper Karissa Wilson (Londonderry, N.H.) for her fifth goal of the season.
Schuckers would nearly make the score 2-0 in the 24th minute when an open look in front of a diving Wilson was blocked down, then again in the 38th minute when she received a cross from freshman Gia Gonzales, but sent the shot just wide left.
With Stevens unable to capitalize on a couple of its opportunities, Elmira nearly knotted the game at one in the closing minutes of the first half, when freshman forward Rachael Bromson (Suffield, Conn.) headed a Danielle Corjulo (Southington,Conn.) cross just high at 40:04.
The Soaring Eagles continued to push forward at the start of the second half hoping to tie the game, but an unrelenting Ducks' attack would continue to generate opportunities. Stevens' persistence would pay off in the 51st minute when Stewart's cross from near side found a streaking Misilo, would in turn tally her first marker of the season while staking the Ducks' to a 2-0 lead.
Elmira, which held an 8-4 shot advantage in the second half, would come close on several chances in the second half, first on an Ellie Hamilton (Victor, N.Y.) shot from the top of the box that veered just wide right in the 54th minute, then again in the 57th minute when Bromson headed a Kelsey Kiel (Bryn Athyn, N.Y.) wide left.
Kiel would nearly ruin Stevens' sophomore goalkeeper Kaitlyn McClymont's shutout bid with just 3:30 remaining with a near-breakaway chance, but a sliding tackle by hustling Ducks' freshman Paige Allen quelled any danger.
Kelly would close out the scoring in the waning moments of regulation, putting away a Gonzales cross from the right corner for her first collegiate goal.
Stevens returns to the pitch on September 30 when it plays host to Drew University.
