HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 17, 2011) – Despite a pair of goals from sophomore Rachel Chavez and three points from senior tri-captain Mallory Swanson, the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team fell to Utica College by a 5-3 final on Saturday afternoon at the De Baun Athletic Complex in the Empire 8 opener for both schools. Senior goalkeeper Krysten Suarez made a career-high 16 saves in the loss for the Ducks who drop to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
The Pioneers (3-2 overall, 1-0 Empire 8) handed the Ducks just their second loss to an Empire 8 team since 2008. They finished the game with a 29-14 advantage in shots, while Stevens ended with a 14-7 edge in penalty corners.
Utica got on the scoreboard first thanks to senior Mallory Mariano's (Oneida, N.Y.) third goal of the year, but the Ducks promptly answered back 1:30 later when Swanson and Chavez hooked up for a score. The senior was able to slip a pass on an angle to the right post where Chavez was waiting, and the sophomore tapped in for her team-high third goal of the year.
The Pioneers regained the lead with two goals to end the half – an unassisted tally from freshman Hannah Mackey (Locke, N.Y.) with 9:50 to play in the period, and freshman Marion Steele-Norton's (Avondale, Pa.) second goal of the year in the 31st minute.
Utica made it a 4-1 lead 2:06 into the second half when Mackey put in her second of the contest, and the Pioneers converted a penalty stroke in the 52nd minute to up the edge to four.
The Ducks did not quit and put in the final two goals of the afternoon. Swanson scored her second goal of the season when she converted a stroke her own with 9:51 on the clock and Chavez buried her second of the game with 2:49 remaining. Her goal was set up when junior and sister Marguerite Chavez dribbled down into the left side of the circle and crossed to the right post where Rachel Chavez was able to tap in.
Senior Monica Storms (Owego, N.Y.) earned the win in goal for Utica, making six saves.
Stevens will return to action on September 21 when it visits Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham for a 7 p.m. game. The Ducks defeated the Devils in a two-OT thriller a year ago. Stevens returns home on September 24 for a conference contest against St. John Fisher College. That game will be webcast live at www.Empire8.tv.
