GRANTHAM, Pa. (November 10, 2021)  – A historic season for the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team came to a close Wednesday evening with a 3-0 setback at No. 9 Messiah University in an NCAA first-round contest played at Anderson Field.

Senior Emily Franco made two saves, including a diving stop of a penalty stroke in the third quarter, for the Ducks, who finished the 2021 campaign 15-5. 

The result capped a brilliant season that saw the Ducks advance to their fifth NCAA Tournament after capturing the program's first MAC Freedom title. Spurred by a program-record 11-game winning streak, the Ducks posted the fourth-most wins in any single season in program history. Collectively, Stevens finished with a 1.31 goals-against average and conceded just 27 goals all season, topping the MAC Freedom in both scoring average and scoring defense in the regular season. 

Ashlyn Smith scored twice for the Falcons, who won their 10th straight to improve to 17-2. Messiah advances to face Babson College Saturday in a second-round matchup in Massachusetts.

After a defensive battle that produced just two shots in the opening quarter, Smith scored twice over a five-minute stretch in the second period to give Messiah an advantage, which ultimately proved too much to overcome. Smith's first marker followed a penalty corner, with the Falcons' Nicole Shank sending a ball towards the cage from the top of the shooting circle and Smith tipping it into the corner of the goal. Smith would double the host's advantage moments later with a blast into the left corner of the goal. Jennie Young scored in the 42nd minute to provide the game's final margin.

Trailing at halftime for just the third time this season, Stevens went on the offensive after the intermission, earning consecutive penalty corners in the first two minutes of play. Senior Kila Eadie's shot went just wide and junior Natalie Logan's try was saved by Catie Brubaker. Brubaker, who has conceded just 17 goals all season. The Messiah netminder finished with three saves.

Defensively, the Ducks held the nationally-ranked Falcons to just 11 shots, their fourth-lowest total of the season. Franco punctuated the Ducks' efforts in the defensive third with a diving stop on Lauren Seubert's penalty stroke in the 40th minute. It was the first time this season that Seubert has been foiled on a stroke (in four total attempts) and just the second time this season that the Falcons failed to convert.

Inside the Numbers

• Although Messiah finished with an 11-6 margin in shots, the Ducks finished with a shot advantage in the fourth quarter.
• Messiah held an 8-4 advantage in penalty corners, although each side earned four in the second half. 
• Today's contest was the first meeting between the teams since 2014.
• Senior Aryana Muscara recorded her second defensive save of the season in the 42nd minute. 

From the Sidelines - Head Coach Meredith Spencer-Blaetz

• "I am really proud of our group tonight. We received a tough first-round draw and I think we held our own against a top-10 team. Credit to Messiah, who was incredibly conditioned on its own field, but I really think we created some good opportunities. Our tenacity stood out tonight and as always, we leave this game, and this season, with our heads held high."
• "I am especially grateful for the senior group this year and the leadership and skill they provided. Beyond the skill that they brought to this team, they created a family for the younger players and a place where all members of the team were able to excel. They have certainly left a legacy that we will all work so hard to continue."

Up Next

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