HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 23, 2010) – Sophomore Mary Nikish of the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team was successful on the final attempt of the second stroke-off round to clinch a thrilling, 2-1, win over Nazareth College on Saturday afternoon at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. The two teams played 100 minutes of hockey and were tied at one. The first stroke-off of five shots for each team ended at 3-3 before the Ducks took the second round, 4-3.
With the win, Stevens improved to 8-8 overall and 5-1 in the Empire 8. The Ducks also clinched at least the second seed in the upcoming Empire 8 tournament. Nazareth drops to 4-9 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
After a slow start for both squads, the Ducks began to pressure Nazareth deep in the Golden Flyer zone. Nikish had a good look following a corner just off the right post but senior goalkeeper Kelsey Evans (Penfield, N.Y.) made a nice kick save to keep the game scoreless.
The Ducks continued to pressure Naz, and eventually broke through at the 17:36 mark. Senior Lauren Griggs started the play on a penalty corner. The ball went up top and was slid to freshman Caitlin Chamberlain on the upper-right side of the circle. Chamberlain then fired to Griggs who had moved to the far post, two yards from the goal, and she did the rest, notching her first goal of the season and 25th of her career.
Stevens had several other chances in the first half but could not up the lead and the two teams went into the break with the score holding at 1-0. The Ducks had an 8-1 advantage in shots and penalty corners after one.
Nazareth came out very strong in the second half, controlling field position and the ball and was able to draw even with a tally following a corner of its own. Senior Emily Conway (Fairport, N.Y.) received the initial hit and passed from the top-right of the circle to sophomore Lindsey Smith (Manlius, N.Y.) who one-timed it in from three yards out on the right side.
The Ducks began winning the battle of field position once again but were unable to find the back of the net as Evans was tough, making 12 saves on the afternoon. All in all, the Ducks ended the game with a 22-5 advantage in shots and out-cornered Naz, 19-4.
In the first stroke-off, Nazareth had a 2-1 lead after three rounds. Lauren Griggs was able to tie it for the Ducks, who went first, and goalkeeper Ellyn Griggs was able to stop the fourth attempt for Naz. Nikish put away the fifth Stevens attempt to give the Ducks a 3-2 lead, but junior Nina Fargnolo (Rochester, N.Y.) was able to put her attempt passed Ellyn Griggs to force a second round of strokes.
Juniors Mallory Swanson and Jillian Price put the Ducks up 2-0 after two rounds as Ellyn Griggs denied the first two Golden Flyer strokers. After a Naz make, senior Melanie Richards put Stevens up 3-1, but Evans made a stop and the next two Nazareth attempts were converted so it came down to Nikish with things knotted at three-all. The sophomore calmly setup and took a picture-perfect shot to send the Ducks into a celebration.
Prior to the game, Stevens honored five members of its senior class in Lauren Griggs, Ellyn Griggs, Allison Basile, Karen Federico, and Melanie Richards.
Stevens will return to action at Rowan University on Wednesday night. Game-time is slated for 6:30 p.m. in Glassboro, N.J.
