MONTCLAIR, N.J. (February 27, 2019)  – Junior Kyra Bednarski netted a career-high seven goals, but No. 24 Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse fell to Montclair State 16-10 Wednesday evening in a non-conference contest at Sprague Field.

Juniors Brianne Salera and Emily Shanklin, along with freshman Morgan Westerby, also found the back of the net for Stevens, who dropped its 2019 season opener. Westerby's marker was the first of her collegiate career.

Chelsea Orban matched Bednarski's seven goals, while adding an assist, to total a game-high eight points, while Megan Mahlstadt added two goals and five assists for the Red Hawks, who improved to 1-1. Montclair State's victory snapped Stevens' two-game winning streak in the series, although the Ducks still hold the advantage in the all-time series 14-9. 

"I'm proud of the team," said head coach Karen Shaddock. "They played extremely hard. We are a young group and have a lot of growing to do."

Sophomore Peyton Taylor drew her first collegiate start and made nine saves. Amanda Maguire stopped one shot for the Red Hawks to earn the victory.

"We had a lot of players step up [tonight]," Shaddock added. "Meredith and Lyla had some big plays on defense and Peyton played great in the cage."

Westerby earned the season's first draw control and after the teams traded turnovers, the Ducks successfully converted the first shot of the game when a a Meghan Gorman foul led to a free-position attempt. Bednarski took the ensuing shot and beat Maguire to open scoring. The Syracuse, New York native converted 15 of her 27 free-position attempts one season ago.

Costigan answered two minutes later with a free-position goal of her own to even the game and the Red Hawks took their first lead of the game when Mahlstadt found the back of the net 50 seconds later. 

Following a timeout, junior Kayla Buell forced a turnover that led to a successful clear. The Ducks moved the ball into a successful scoring position, where Bednarski was able to net her second of the game to draw the teams even. 

The next two minutes proved to be the game-defining sequence. Montclair State took four shots and scoring three times to open a 5-2 lead. Bednarski again found the back of the net to slow down Montclair State, but the Red Hawks scored back-to-back markers to push the advantage to four.

Bednarski and Shanklin bookended a Sydnee Sapp goal to pull the Ducks within three in the final minutes of the first half, but Montclair State scored three straight goals bridging the halves to take an 11-5 lead. 

Bednarski continued to display her offensive prowess, scoring three of the next four goals to again pull Stevens within four, but Jessica Andreula and Orban scored 33 seconds apart to put the game out of reach. The teams alternated goals over the final 9:10 to provide the game's final margin.

For the game, Montclair State outshot Stevens 34-22, including a 25-17 edge in shots on goal. Orban led all players with 10 shots, while Bednarski fired eight to pace the Ducks. Eight different players took a shot for Stevens, including four players who recorded their first collegiate attempts. Salera recorded her second-half goal on her only shot of the game.

Defensively, Shanklin and freshman Meredith Conlin each caused two turnovers as Stevens forced 18 Montclair State miscues for the game. The Red Hawks' Brittany Costigan forced three turnovers to lead all players as the home team forced Stevens into 21 turnovers. Conlin picked up six ground balls to top Stevens, while Taylor scooped up five. Leanne McCloskey led Montclair State with a game-high nine.

Stevens was successful on 18 of its 23 clear attempts, while Montclair State went 16-for-17. The Red Hawks also held a slim edge (25-23) in ground balls and out-earned the Ducks 18-10 on draw controls. Shanklin and Westerby each earned a team-high three draws, while Costigan topped all players with 12.

Bednarski went a perfect 3-for-3 on free-position attempts as Stevens scored on four of its six free-position attempts. Mahlstadt and Sapp each converted a free-position attempt for the Red Hawks.

Five different players made their collegiate debuts for Stevens: Conlin, Westerby, Natalie Fitzpatrick, Gale Bennett and Maeve McGovern.

Up Next: No. 24 Stevens welcomes No. 20 Rowan University to campus for the Ducks' home opener. The Ducks are 11-5 all-time against the Profs. Stevens has won three of the last four meetings between the teams.

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