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Tournament Homepage | Postgame Interview

HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 8, 2013) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team needed a victory in regulation and by a two-goal margin over New York University to secure a tie with Vassar College for the 2013 Engineering Cup title and did just that with a 2-0 triumph over NYU on Sunday afternoon. Sunday's victory is the first of the season for Stevens and is the seventh Cup crown in the 10-year existence of the tournament for the Ducks.

With a strong tailwind during the first half, Stevens used the aid of Mother Nature to notch two first half goals and played superb defense to tally the win. The Violets could only muster one shot in the first 45 minutes of the contest and could barely advance the ball past midfield due to the constant wind in their face.

The Ducks picked up their first goal in the 29th minute off what appeared to be an entry pass from freshman Allison Kopacz (Green Brook, N.J.) 35 yards out but a high bounce and a push from the wind sent the ball over the head of NYU's goalkeeper into the net. The marker is the first collegiate score for Kopacz. 

Not even nine minutes later, Stevens used a more conventional way to tally a score as junior Ann Heine (Sammamish, Wash.) used a short cross to senior Bridget Barden (Redondo Beach, Calif.) who made a run her Heine's left and distributed the pass into the net with a right-footed flick past Cassie Steinberg.

NYU tried to mount a comeback late in the second half with three shots but were unable to crack the Stevens backline, anchored by senior Caitlyn Labonte (Northbridge, Mass.). Labonte locked down numerous runs by the Violets and diverted any possibility of one-on-one chances throughout the contest. For her play, Labonte was named the Cup's Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

Sophomore Leah Spaulding (San Pedro, Calif.) earned her first win as a Duck with two saves in all 90 minutes of action.

The Ducks outshot NYU, 17-7, and held a 7-3 edge in corners. Stevens recorded 46 shots over the weekend and kept its opponents to just 10.

Stevens recorded nine points with the victory today and a double overtime loss to Vassar yesterday. Vassar also earned nine points with the win over the Ducks and picked up four more today with a penalty kick victory against Haverford College.

The Vassar and Haverford showdown goes down as a draw, but to announce a winner of the match, penalty kicks take place in the Cup to declare a victor. The match finished as a 1-1 stalemate but the Brewers put away four penalty shots to three from Haverford. Vassar's Chloe Wheeler was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player with two goals this weekend.

The shared title was determined by tiebreaker rules set for the Cup and all three were washed out since both teams scored three goals, allowed two and were plus-one in goal differential.

Stevens returns to the pitch on September 11 in a non-conference match with Ramapo College at 4 p.m. in Mahwah, N.J.