HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 26, 2011) – Junior forward Marguerite Chavez (Oceanport, N.J.) scored two goals to help lift the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team to a 2-1 win over SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday night at the De Baun Athletic Complex. With the win, Stevens improves to 10-6 overall as it heads into its regular-season finale against Washington & Jefferson College Saturday afternoon.
Stevens jumped on scoreboard first in the fourth minute on Chavez's first of the night and eighth of the season. Sophomore forward Rachel Chavez (Oceanport, N.J.) carried the ball deep into the New Paltz zone but was unable to generate a clean look on goal. She stayed with the play, regained possession from the Hawks' defense and slid a pass across the mouth of the goal to her sister for the game's first tally.
New Paltz came back to tie the game at one apiece in the 12th minute when sophomore Alyssa Stock (Morris Plains, N.J.) angled a pass from the top of the circle to freshman Alex Gallo (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) for the marker.
New Paltz nearly took the lead three minutes later but Duck midfielder Caroline Packowski (Jackson, N.J.) was able to make a defensive save on a shot off the stick of sophomore Lauren Link (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and score remained knotted at one
The Ducks regained the lead in the 16th minute thanks to Chavez's second of the night. Senior Jillian Price (West Islip, N.Y.) started the play, digging it out of the defensive zone and sending a long pass to Chavez in front. The junior made a couple of touches, cut back towards the middle of the field, and blasted a shot from the top of the circle into the lower-left corner for the goal.
New Paltz ended the first with an 8-5 edge in shots and each team totaled five penalty corners.
The second period was all Stevens as the Ducks had an 11-3 edge in shots and an 11-2 advantage in penalty corners, however, the Ducks could not find the back of the net. New Paltz had two penalty corners with 1:20 to play and the second generated a solid chance but the shot deflected wide and Stevens held on for the win.
The Ducks have won 10-of-13 since starting 0-3 and now have double-digit wins each of the last six seasons.
Stevens received solid contributions all night from backs Samantha Weisman (Fairfax, Va.), Katie Achilles (Portsmouth, N.H.), and Megan Traub (Berkeley Heights, N.J.). Midfielders Chelsea Cresci (Wilmington, Del.), Mallory Swanson (Princeton Junction, N.J.), Packowski and Price also played well for the Ducks.
Freshman Gabriela Sanchez (Auburn, N.H.) was strong in goal for Stevens, making a career-high five saves.
The Ducks will take on W&J at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Hoboken. With a win, Stevens would clinch the second seed in the Empire 8 Championship slated for November 5 & 6. A Duck win and a Utica loss would mean a No. 1 seed for Stevens. All of Saturday's action can be seen live at www.Empire8.tv.
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