HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 21, 2011) – First-year goalkeeper Brian Schaake of the Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team earned his first career shutout in stellar fashion, blanking No. 10 and previously unbeaten Swarthmore College 1-0 on Wednesday night. Sophomore Stephen Dunbar provided the game-winning goal in the closing minutes of the first period courtesy of freshman Jonathan Stallone's set-up pass. The Ducks (5-2) have won four straight while the Garnet drops to 5-1.

Stevens controlled play early on, totaling six shots in the first half to Swarthmore's two. Schaake made a good stop 20 minutes into the rainy beginning of the game, as a hard-driven Garnet shot was tipped but the freshman was able to make the play. The precipitation made play difficult in the opening minutes but tapered off though the first half.

Zach Bowman and Zach Adler just missed connecting on a crossing pass at 22:10, with Adler's header going wide. Then off of a corner, Stallone gathered a rebound opportunity and drilled a shot wide with eight minutes left in the first half.

Just one minute later, Dunbar found himself on the receiving end of a pretty pass from Stallone on the left side nearly on the six-yard line. Dunbar took one touch before depositing the shot into the corner of the net with his left foot to give Stevens the 1-0 lead.

The first half would end there, with the Ducks holding a 4-0 edge in corner kicks, while the fouls and saves were both even.

One minute into the second half, the Garnet goalkeeper misplayed a long shot that bounced over his head, leaving Benjamin Hirsch and Jack Momeyer (New York, N.Y.) in a desperate race for the ball. Hirsch was able to touch it but Momeyer provided enough pressure so that the ball trickled just wide of the goal.

After that scare, the momentum of the game shifted towards Swarthmore, as the Garnet started to apply increased pressure to Schaake and the Ducks' D. Senior Anthony Roden and sophomore Curtis Stecyk broke up a couple of Swarthmore crossing passes midway through the half.

Stevens would have a few more offensive chances, with Ernesto Solis testing Garnet goalkeeper David D'Annunzio (Piedmont, Calif.) with a hard strike. Solis had a near-exact good chance soon after, set up by a long punt from Schaake and good touch by Victor Daza.

The match became very tense after a red card was given to Roden, leaving the Ducks with just 10 men on the field for the final 16:30. That time began auspiciously for Stevens, however, as the free kick immediately ensuing from the red card foul was sent wide by Swarthmore from just 22 yards out.

Michael Stewart (Philadelphia, Pa.) of the Garnet then had a close shot, but Schaake was able to gobble it up for Stevens. There was another frantic sequence in front of the goal with nine minutes left. Schaake and two Stevens defenders were able to prevent the Garnet from getting a shot off, however.

With one minute remaining, John Pontillo (Moorestown, N.J.) headed a ball toward the top of the goal that looked like it was destined to tie the game. But Schaake skied backward and was able to punch the would-be overtime-inducer over the crossbar and out of harm's way to preserve the Stevens shutout – the first of his career.

Spurred by the one-man advantage, Swarthmore enjoyed a 12-7 advantage in shots and a 5-1 lead in corners in the second half, though they could not come up with the tying goal. Schaake made a total of five saves on the night.

The Ducks will hit the road after Wednesday and open the Empire 8 portion of their schedule with a game on Saturday, September 24 at Alfred University beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Remember to 'like' us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/stevensathletics.