UTICA, N.Y. (November 5, 2011) – Nazareth College was able to overcome a 2-0 second-half deficit to defeat Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the Empire 8 Field Hockey Championship hosted by Utica College. The second-seeded Ducks received goals from senior Jillian Price (West Islip, N.Y.) and junior Samantha Weisman (Fairfax, Va.), but it was not enough as the third-seeded Golden Flyers advanced to face fourth-seeded Washington & Jefferson College for the conference title Sunday. Top-seeded Utica was knocked off by W&J in the other semifinal contest.

The Ducks seemed to dominate the stat sheet, ending the game with an 18-7 edge in shots and an 8-3 advantage in penalty corners. Stevens also put 13 attempts on goal compared to just six for Nazareth but the Golden Flyers were able to notch one more score to advance.

Price tallied her fifth of the season 10:15 into the action courtesy of a Megan Traub (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) assist on a play that began on penalty corner.

The game remained 1-0 Stevens (11-7 overall) until the 45:52 mark when Weisman scored her fourth of the season on a penalty stroke, and the Ducks looked to be in control.

The Golden Flyers (7-11 overall) started their rally exactly 50 seconds later when sophomore Alexis Root (Marathon, N.Y.) scored thanks to a cross in front from junior Tessa Knapp (Marathon, N.Y.). The two teams played scoreless hockey for the next 15-plus minutes, and Naz knotted the score at two-all with 7:31 to play. Senior Elise Maryanpolis (Gloversville, N.Y.) was able to put home a cross from Root for her second goal of the season.

Knapp tallied the game-winner and her eighth of the year with 4:09 on the clock, scoring on a breakaway and pass from Root who ended the game with four points.

Nazareth goalie Sophia Rhoades (Highland, N.Y.) made 10 saves to earn the win. Senior Krysten Suarez (Long Valley, N.J.) made a pair of stops for the Ducks.