INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (October 3, 2012) – Senior forward Mary Nikish (Pittsford, N.Y.) of the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team is ranked fourth in the nation in assists per game, according to the latest statistical release from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Ducks crack the top-30 in five categories as a team heading into a showdown with in-state rival and 10th-ranked Montclair State University Wednesday night starting at 8 p.m. in Hoboken, N.J.
 
Nikish has 11 assists for Stevens which is tops on the team and in the Empire 8. Junior forward Marguerite Chavez (Oceanport, N.J.) and her 11 goals ranks 40th nationally and second in the conference.
 
As a team, Stevens is 17th in penalty corners per game (12.45) and 27th in points per game, averaging 9.18 each outing. The Ducks are 28th in assists per game (2.27) and goals per game (3.45), while their winning percentage of .636 is No. 47.
 
Stevens is 7-4 overall and 4-0 in the Empire 8. The Ducks are one game ahead of Hartwick College (3-1) in the conference standings with Houghton College, Washington and Jefferson College, Ithaca College, Elmira College and St. John Fisher College all two games back at 2-2.
 
Montclair St. will come into Wednesday's game with an overall mark of 10-1. Stevens lost 3-2 in overtime back in 2011 when the Red Hawks were No. 9 nationally and is 1-3 since 2008 against its local rival.
 
After the game against MSU, the Ducks will travel to Elmira College and St. John Fisher College October 6 & 7 in a pivotal conference road bacl-to-back. All of Wednesday's action can be seen live at www.Empire8.tv.
 
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