HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 5, 2019)  – No. 18/18 Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer earned the top seed in the MAC Freedom Tournament after finishing the regular season with a perfect 7-0 record. The Ducks will host the fourth-seeded Wilkes University Colonels Tuesday evening at the DeBaun Athletic Complex. 

On the other side of the bracket, the MAC Freedom's second seed, Misericordia University welcomes DeSales University to Mangelsdorf Field for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

Stevens is making its first appearance in the conference tournament after joining the MAC Freedom last July. The Ducks wrapped up their tenure in the Empire 8 Conference with four straight conference titles and were 10-4-4 all-time the E8 Tournament. The program reached postseason play in each of their 12 seasons in the Empire 8.

See below for a quick preview of the MAC Freedom Tournament field

#1 Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks | 13-3-1; 7-0
Schedule | Roster | Stats

Quack Talk:
Stevens arrived in its first MAC Freedom Tournament on an 11-match winning streak after topping Eastern University, 5-0 on Senior Day. It's the third time in the last four seasons that the Ducks have reeled off at least 11 consecutive wins. 

Offensively, the Ducks put a lot of pressure on their opponents, firing a conference-leading 21.12 shots per match, which is 32nd in Division III. The Ducks are averaging 2.12 goals per match and are led by senior Julia Panko, who scored 12 goals with three assists for a team-leading 27 points.

Defensively, the team's offensive pressure paired with a veteran back line has helped hold opponents to less than a goal per match (0.76). Sophomore Izzy DiDario has posted a 0.438 goals-against average, which ranks 16th in Division III.

Additionally, per the Massey Rankings, Stevens played the 15th-toughest schedule in Division III.

Players to Watch:

• Julia Panko - Senior - Midfield - leads the team with 12 goals, including four game-winners
• Gabby Saade - Senior - Forward - a team-leading seven assists and leads the team with 32 shots on goal
• Fiona Matthews - Sophomore - Midfield/Back - a dangerous two-way player that has played the most minutes on a team allowed less than a goal per match, while also adding three goals and five assists
• Izzy DiDario - Sophomore - Goalkeeper - Has paired a 0.438 goals-against average with a 0.878 save percentage to pitch four clean sheets, while combining with junior Erika McCarthy for another two.

#2 Misericordia University Cougars | 10-5-2; 6-1
Schedule | Roster | Stats

Meeting Mis:
The three-time defending MAC Freedom champions, Misericordia is making its 11th straight MAC Freedom appearance and has captured six conference titles in the last seven seasons.

The Cougars enter the postseason as winners of six of their last seven matches, including a 3-1 victory over DeSales in the regular-season finale. The team ranks fourth in the conference in scoring, but the program's defense has been its calling card, holding teams to 0.94 goals per match.

Goalkeeper Alexis Benedetto has registered three of the league's top-five individual-match save totals, including a season-high 11 against No. 1 Messiah.

Players to Watch:

• Kendall Pearage - Sophomore - Midfield - leads the team with 13 points (5G 3A)
• Maegan Allspach - Freshman - Forward - leads the team with six goals, although she has only started one match
• Emma Przyhocki - Junior - Back - anchors defensive unit that ranked second in the conference in goals against
• Alexis Benedetto - Junior - Goalkeeper - second in the conference with a 0.916 goals-against average, while making 72 saves

When We Last Met:
Senior Julia Panko broke through in the 88th minute to send the Ducks over the Cougars, 1-0 on Oct. 5. The Stevens victory snapped Misericordia's run of 12 straight MAC Freedom victories. DiDario made four saves on the night to secure the victory. The match was the Ducks' first MAC Freedom contest.

#3 DeSales University Bulldogs | 13-4-1; 4-2-1
Schedule | Roster | Stats

Decoding DeSales:
The Bulldogs are making their 10th appearance in the conference tournament in sixth straight. DeSales captured its lone conference championship in 2015 and has dropped all three postseason meetings with the Cougars. 

The Bulldogs fell to Misericordia in their regular-season finale, although the team had won three of its last four entering the match. DeSales ranks second in the conference with a 2.611 scoring average with freshman Allie Trick coming in third with 11 goals in 17 matches.

Players to Watch:

• Allie Trick - Freshman - Forward - led the team with 11 goals and one assist to finish fifth in the MAC Freedom with 23 points
• Sam Monteforte - Freshman - Forward - led the team with five assists, which tied for seventh in the conference, while also adding four goals
• Katie Padgett - Freshman - Forward - totaled six goals and three assists for the second-highest scoring offense in the conference
• Lia Gaccione - Junior - Goalkeeper - ranked third in the conference with a 1.342 goals-against average, while also making 49 saves

When We Last Met:
Sophomore back Gianna Nitti recorded her first goal of the season in the 11th minute and Panko provided an insurance goal in the 55th minute as the Ducks topped the Bulldogs, 2-1 on Oct. 24. The victory moved Stevens to 3-2 all-time against DeSales, although it was the first meeting between the programs since 2001.

#4 Wilkes University Colonels | 8-7-1; 4-3
Schedule | Roster | Stats

What's Up With Wilkes:
Making their fifth straight appearance in the conference tournament, Wilkes enters their semifinal match on a two-game winning streak after blanking both SUNY Oneonta and Delaware Valley University to close out the regular season.

Emily Bidelspach leads the team offensively, topping the Colonels in goals and points. 

Defensively, goalkeeper Samantha Cecere has made 48 saves with three shutouts.

Players to Watch:

• Emily Bidelspach - Sophomore - Midfield - leads the team with 14 points (6G 2A) and ranks 11th in the conference with 0.93 points per match
• Jessica Egan - Senior - Forward - ranks second on the team with five goals and 13 points
• Samantha Cecere - Senior - Goalkeeper - made 48 saves and ranked 10th in the conference with a 0.686 save percentage and fifth with a 1.542 GAA

When We Last Met:
Sophomore Ally Wanzor and freshman Catalina Abusada provided the offense as the Ducks blanked the Colonels 2-0 on Oct. 12. After a scoreless first half, Wanzor received a crossing ball inside the 18 and gained separation from her defender before driving the ball into the net for her third goal of the year. Abusada provided late insurance in the 78th minute, deflected a free kick into the net for her first collegiate goal. The victory extended Stevens' scoreless streak to 358:50 at the time. The Ducks have won all four meetings with the Colonels.

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