HOBOKEN, N.J. (SEPTEMBER 4, 2015) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team will be looking open its season 2-0 when they take on #3 Messiah College Saturday night at 7 p.m.
                
RED HAWK DOWN
In their season opener, the Ducks upset #12 Montclair State University 2-1 Tuesday night. Junior Raba Nassif netted a goal and an assist while senior Carly Bean scored the first of goal of the year for the team.
 
ON THE DEFENSIVE
The backline of seniors Bella Romano and Kristen Goncalves along with freshmen Erin Mellett and Olivia Butera held Montclair to just five shots and held Jennie Hornstra, the Red Hawks second-leading goal scorer in 2014 to just two shots.
 
SCOUTING MESSIAH
The Falcons advanced to NCAA Division III Elite 8 last season, falling to eventual national champion Lynchburg College in penalty kicks. This season, they opened with a 5-1 victory over Virginia Wesleyan College Tuesday night. Stevens has never topped Messiah, and fell 4-0 on Castle Point last August.
 
Junior Nikki Elsaesser returns to lead a potent Messiah offense, as the two-time Commonwealth Conference Offensive Player of the Year tallied 23 goals and 57 points last year. Against Virginia Wesleyan, the Old Bridge, N.J. native notched a goal and an assist.
 
MAHKNEN IT LOOK EASY
Sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Mahnken only had to make two saves Tuesday, but she was active in intercepting crosses and clearing away balls from inside the 18-yard area. The Bayville, N.J. native is three saves away from 75 in her short career and her six career shutouts place her sixth on the all-time list.
                                                                                                                 
Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks