Casiano
Mike McLaughlin
0
Wilkes WUWS (6-7-2; 2-2-2 (MACF))
1
Winner Stevens STEVENS (7-5-3; 4-1-1 (MACF))
Wilkes WUWS
(6-7-2; 2-2-2 (MACF))
0
Final
1
Stevens STEVENS
(7-5-3; 4-1-1 (MACF))
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Wilkes WUWS 0 0 0
Stevens STEVENS 0 1 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Stevens Athletic Communications

Casiano’s Strike Carries Women’s Soccer Over Wilkes 1-0

Ducks post second straight clean sheet to earn key MAC Freedom win

HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 23, 2021)  – Graduate student Kaitlyn Casiano broke through in the 65th minute to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team over Wilkes University 1-0 Saturday in a MAC Freedom match at the DeBaun Athletic Complex.

Senior Gianna Nitti began the game-changing play with a free kick. On the restart, the Fort Lee, New Jersey native laced a shot into the wall that struck the face of the right-most player. The ball caromed back to Nitti, who touched it over to her left side, where Casiano was waiting on the edge of the box. Casiano lofted a shot towards the top of the net. Wilkes' goalkeeper Hannah Landis attempted to reach well over her right shoulder to punch Casiano's try over the net, but could only reach the ball with her fingertips, resulting in Casiano's second goal of the season. 

The one-goal advantage was more than enough for the Ducks, who won their second straight to improve to 7-5-3 on the year and to 4-1-1 in the MAC Freedom. Stevens currently sits in third place in the conference with 13 points. Misericordia and DeSales have already secured their spots in the postseason tournament with three remaining berths for the taking. The Ducks are three points ahead of FDU-Florham, which is the next opponent on the Ducks' schedule. 

Senior Izzy DiDario made a pair of saves to preserve her fifth clean sheet of the season. The Scotch Plains, New Jersey native made a nifty stop on Wilkes' leading scorer, Emily Bidelspach in the 14th minute. Bidelspach won a challenge just outside the Colonels' attacking third and dribbled to the edge of the 18. The All-MAC Freedom selection drove a right-footed strike towards the goal, but DiDario was up to the task and made the save. The Ducks have conceded just four goals over six conference matches and DiDario has marshalled a clean sheet in two straight matches.

The Ducks controlled play throughout the match and held Wilkes to just a single shot in the second half. Stevens has allowed an opponent to reach double digits in shots just once over its last six matches.

Landis finished with nine saves for the Colonels, who fell to 6-7-2 on the year and to 2-2-2 in league play. Wilkes is currently in fifth place with eight points, two behind FDU-Florham and one ahead of Lycoming.

Inside the Numbers
  • Stevens finished with a 24-4 advantage in shots, including a 14-1 margin in the second half. The Ducks have outshot 13 of their 14 opponents this season.
  • Senior Ally Wanzor fired off three shots to lead both sides for the second straight match. Four different student-athletes took one shot to pace Wilkes.
  • The Ducks held a 10-2 edge in shots on target. 
  • Casiano's two goals mark a career high.
  • Nitti's assist was her second of the season, matching a career high.
  • Stevens out-earned Wilkes 4-0 in corners, marking the second time this season that the Ducks have held an opponent without a corner. 
  • The victory was head coach Jeff Parker's 292nd at Stevens.

Unsung Heroes
  • The Ducks have not conceded a goal to Wilkes in each of the last three meetings.

From the Pitch - Senior Ally Wanzor
  • "It was great to see our team connecting the ball throughout the field today. We were under pressure from Wilkes and were able to keep the ball well. It really showed today, how we can play, when we play together: we get a lot of dangerous opportunities and make each other look good on the field!"

From the Sidelines - Head Coach Jeff Parker
  • "Overall, a good result from our performance this afternoon. Big picture, important three points as we look to secure postseason play and our position in the MAC Freedom playoffs. Specifically, on today, we dictated the play and created most of the opportunities on both ends. Second half, I think we were getting into more dangerous areas and you always feel good when an outside back gets forward and is able to score. Quick turnaround and we'll have to be ready for FDU-Florham away on Tuesday. We'll need to improve on some things to come away with a good result."

Up Next
  • Stevens heads to Madison, New Jersey on Oct. 26, for an important conference match against FDU-Florham.
  • In a series that dates back to at least the 2002 season, the Ducks are winners of five straight meetings between the programs.
  • Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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