HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 18, 2014) – Junior midfielder Dailyn Brook (Cherry Hill, N.J.) recorded five second-half points to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team to a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Empire 8 rival Ithaca College Saturday afternoon at the De Baun Athletic Complex.
 
The game was played in front of 500 fans and was part of Homecoming 2014.
 
With the win, Stevens controls its own destiny in the Empire 8. The Ducks are now 4-3 in the conference and in sole possession of fourth place with one game remaining in the conference on November 1 against Nazareth College. Naz (2-4) has two games left in the conference and with a win over Hartwick College on October 25 would set up what is essentially a play-in game for a berth in the E8 semis.
 
Trailing 2-0 after the first half, the Ducks put together a spirited comeback that started 5:15 into the second half. The deficit was sliced in half when sophomore midfielder Nolie Prouty (Glendora, Calif.) was able to slip a pass in front to Brook for her first goal of the game and 11th of the season. Prouty pocketed her fifth assist of the season and Brook's diving effort on the play set the tone for the rest of the way.
 
Stevens (7-10 overall, 4-3 E8) pulled even 8:38 later with a gorgeous goal from sophomore forward Taylor Welch (Ringwood, N.J.). On the play, Prouty carried into the left side of the circle and fed Brook in front. Brook evetnually controlled and tossed a shot toward the far post that Welch was able to deflect home for her ninth goal of the year.
 
The next 17-plus minutes of game time seemed to be spent entirely in the Ithaca zone as Stevens dominated possession and field position over that span. After countless chances, the Ducks received a golden opportunity for the lead when a stroke was awarded because an Ithaca defender used her body to block a Duck shot from going in.
 
Brook capitalized on the stroke, sneaking her shot inside the near post and lifting Stevens to the huge conference win.
 
Ithaca scored at 21:31 and 27:41 of the first half and had another chance via a penalty stroke, but Stevens' sophomore goalie Emily Stukenborg (Stockholm, N.J.) was up to the task.
 
Stukenborg finished the game with six saves to earn the win between the pipes for the Ducks. Ithaca goalie Katie Lass (Cherry Hill, N.J.) made nine saves in the loss for the Bombers.
 
Stevens finished the game with a 26-19 edge in shots, including an 18-5 margin in the second half. The Ducks also had a 20-11 advantage in penalty corners (15-2 in the second half).
 
Stevens returns to action October 25 at Ramapo College.
 
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