PITTSBURGH, Pa. (August 31, 2012) – The No. 7 Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team began its 2012 campaign with a 3-1 win over Baldwin-Wallace College on a neutral field in Pittsburgh on Friday. Senior Zach Adler (McKinney, Texas) scored twice and junior Christian Grapel (Grass Valley, Calif.) netted the game winner late in the first half to give the Ducks the win.

The sides were scoreless over the first 20 minutes in what was the first action of the year for both teams. Stevens had four good chances in those opening minutes, as Adler fired two well-struck shots that were saved and senior Victor Daza (North Plainfield, N.J.) hit the post five minutes in. Curtis Stecyk (Boulder, Colo.) also had a good opportunity as the Ducks kept B-W goalkeeper Tyler Beaton (Bemus Point, N.Y.) busy for much of the night.

With Stevens on the attack at the 21-minute mark, it was Daza who found Adler with a pass across the box. Adler settled it and sent the ball to the lower left side of the net for the season-opening goal that gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead.

Adler had another good opportunity off of a free kick at the 27:30 mark, but it was the Yellow Jackets who would score next. Vince Miller (Mayfield, Ohio) tipped the ball past the charging Stevens goalkeeper to knot the game up at the 35:15 mark.

Only three minutes later, Stevens' Christian Grapel had possession and dribbled around the defense on the outside. He then fired the ball low toward the far post and into the net to give the Ducks the lead once again. It was the first collegiate goal for the junior defender, and the teams headed into the break with the Ducks up 2-1.

Stevens was awarded a penalty kick three minutes into the next period and Adler was elected to take it. Beaton got enough of his initial attempt that it hit the post, but the rebound came right back to Adler and he calmly shoved the ball past the sprawled goalie for his second score of the afternoon.

Neither side threatened much after that episode, and Stevens took the opening match of the 2012 season by a 3-1 final. Duck goalkeeper Paul Killian (Ellicott City, Md.) made two saves as the Stevens defense held the Jackets to just three shots on goal.

Stevens will be back in the Steel City tomorrow as Carnegie Mellon hosts the Ducks on the second day of the Tartans' kickoff event. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

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