HOBOKEN, N.J. (August 28, 2015) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team will be looking for its third Empire 8 Conference title since 2010 when it kicks off its season Tuesday night against Montclair State University.
 
2014 REWIND
The Ducks claimed the ECAC Metro/Upstate Championship in 2014, routing Rutgers-Newark University 7-1 in the finals. 2014 also marked the 14^th straight year that Stevens qualified for the postseason.
 
IN GOAL
Sophomore Lindsey Mahnken and senior Evelyn Ting both started games in net for the Ducks last season, with Mahnken being named Honorable Mention All-Empire 8. Newcomer Madi Chollett has benefitted from their tutelage, and all three are under the watchful eye of goalkeeping coach Kelly Diaz who returns for his third season.
 
BACK LINE
The defense is anchored by veteran fifth-year senior Bella Romano, who led the Ducks in minutes played last season and was also chosen as Honorable Mention All-E8. Sophomore Megan Lynes made 19 starts on the back line in 2014 and junior Katie Gamble cracked the starting lineup in both the ECAC Semifinals and Finals. Sophomore Katie Goncalves and junior Delaney West, who is returning to the team after sitting out 2014 with an injury, provide veteran depth for the back four.
 
DEEP MIDFIELD
The Duck midfield boasts a lot of experience and important depth for head coach Jeff Parker, as he will be relying on the leadership of senior Carly Bean to hold down the middle third of the field. Along with Bean, juniors Rachel Chavkin and Gabby Mathelier, and sophomores Sammy Mount and Sandi Komar will be tasked with controlling the tempo and powering the team's engine room.
 
MOVING FORWARD
Junior Raba Nassif has been named First-Team All-Empire 8 both years here on Castle Point, and her 18 goals in 2014 placed her fifth on the single-season goal scoring list in program history behind the four seasons volunteer assistant coach Valerie Barnhart. Senior Kristen Goncalves was Second-Team All E8 last season and made the move to forward from outside back this spring. Sophomore Morgan Lynn made 10 appearances last fall and Gabby Pagkalinawan returns from injury looking to provide a spark.
 
NEW FACES
The coaching staff welcomes eight freshmen to the team, and the team is counting on them to make an impact here at Stevens. Whitney Brown and Erin Mellett have been performing well on the back line in preseason. Olivia Butera has logged time in the midfield, and Misha Brewster, Laura Malacane, Zisi Komar, and Penelope Halkiadakis are all competing for time up front.
 
SIBLING SETS
The Ducks have two sets of sisters on the roster for 2015 as sophomore Sandi Komar joins newcomer Zisi Komar up front while Katie and Kristen Goncalves return for their second year as teammates.
 
SCOUTING MONTCLAIR
The Red Hawks open the season ranked 12^th in the National Soccer Coaches Association poll, after reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Ducks are 6-9-1 all-time against Montclair, falling 3-0 last season at the DeBaun Athletic Complex. They last defeated the Red Hawks in 2010 2-1, as Bridgette Barden netted a pair of goals in the win.
 
TOUGH ROAD AHEAD
The Ducks are facing a grueling schedule which saw 14 opponents qualify for the postseason. "Playing quality opponents only helps us prepare for the E8 schedule," Parker said.
 
QUOTEBOOK
"The team is still trying to get to know each other and figuring out what we are capable of becoming," said Parker. "Our coaching staff does great work and it's a big plus to have Steph Basile, our first student-assistant coach still be a part of our program.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Four days after taking on Montclair, the Ducks travel to third ranked Messiah College and stay on the at Mount Saint Mary College on September 9. The Ducks return home to hose Vassar College, New York University and Whitman College in the 12^th Annual Engineering Cup on September 12-13.
 
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