HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 1, 2014) – No. 11 Montclair State University downed Stevens Institute of Technology by a score of 5-1 Wednesday night in a non-conference field hockey game at the De Baun Athletic Complex.
 
With the win, MSU improves to 8-2. The loss drops to the Ducks to 4-7, and they will look to get back in the win column when they host Empire 8 rival Hartwick College Saturday morning at 11 a.m. at the De Baun Athletic Complex.
 
Montclair State was able to score three goals over a span of 4:30 early in the first half to open a 3-0 margin with 21:26 left in the period. Junior Maura Johnston (Montville, N.J.) and sophomore Gianna Moglino (Holmdel, N.J.) had three points in the early going for Montclair.
 
Stevens was able to tighten its defense, allowing just one more tally before the half and two total for the game as the defense and goalie Emily Stukenborg (Stockholm, N.J.) were solid over the final 55-plus minutes. Stukenborg finished the contest with 14 saves.
 
Freshman Kaitlyn Struss (Fairfield, N.J.) tallied the final Red Hawk marker of the game 2:07 into the second half, and the two sides played scoreless hockey for the next 32:50.
 
Despite the large deficit, the Ducks continued to fight on both sides of the field, generating stronger and stronger chances as the game wore on. After several quality bids, junior Erin Silvestri (Beverly, Mass.) nearly recorded her fifth goal of the season after receiving a penalty-corner-insert from junior Dailyn Brook (Cherry Hill, N.J.) but her shot clanged off the post.
 
Stevens was able to get on the board with just 10 seconds on the clock, when senior forward Jillian Fiebel (Roxbury, N.J.) carried into the circle and hit freshman Victoria Alvarez (Pine Beach, N.J.) with a perfect cross in front for the score. The assist was the first of the year for Fiebel with the goal counting as No. 9 for Alvarez.
 
In addition to the point scorers and Stukenborg, Stevens received defensive denials from freshmen Alana Best (New Egypt, N.J.) and Marley Brackelmanns-Puig (Randolph, N.J.).

MSU ended the game with a 31-7 margin in shots, but the Ducks finished with a 6-5 edge in penalty corners.

"Tonight was another step in the right direction for our team," Head Field Hockey Coach Emily Beach (Hoboken, N.J.) said. "Montclair is consistently one of the best teams in the country, and instead of focusing on the final score, we need to realize that we played a 1-1 second half against a very strong team. We will learn from tonight and make some adjustments heading back into conference play Saturday."
 
All of Saturday's action will be webcast live via www.stevensducks.com.
 
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