Budka
Mike McLaughlin
2
Winner Stevens STEVENS (9-5-4, 5-1-2)
1
DeSales DSU (13-5-0, 6-2-0)
Winner
Stevens STEVENS
(9-5-4, 5-1-2)
2
Final
1
DeSales DSU
(13-5-0, 6-2-0)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Stevens STEVENS 1 1 2
DeSales DSU 1 0 1

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

Moving On! Women’s Soccer Downs DeSales 2-1 to Reach MAC Freedom Championship

Veraja and Budka provide the offense as Ducks advance to conference championship match

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (November 4, 2021)  – If defense wins championships, then backs that score goals win postseason soccer matches. 

Senior Nicole Veraja scored her first collegiate goal and classmate Brynn Budka netted her first goal of the season to lead the third-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over second-seeded DeSales University Thursday in a MAC Freedom semifinal match at the DeSales Soccer Complex. The contest marked the Ducks' first trip to Center Valley since Sept. 30, 2000, when DeSales was known as Allentown College.

Senior Izzy DiDario made five saves for the Ducks, who won their second straight to improve to 9-5-4 on the year. The Ducks, who are unbeaten over their last five matches, will take to the pitch Saturday in search of their sixth straight conference championship, either returning to Pennsylvania to take on No. 4 Misericordia or hosting Wilkes at the DeBaun Athletic Complex. The Cougars and the Colonels are scheduled to kick off later this evening. 

Tess Rodgers converted a penalty kick in the 30th minute to account for the lome marker for the Bulldogs, who fell to 13-5. 

After Rodgers put DeSales up by one, the Ducks were awarded a free kick in the 40th minute, just to the right of the 18-yard box. Sophomore Jana Mucci drove the service into a dangerous area. The ball was headed out of immediate danger before ping-ponging between a few different players, ultimately falling to the feet of Veraja in the middle of the 18. The Orangeburg, New York native quickly sent a right-footed shot into the left corner of the net for her first career goal. Normally a stoic presence in the defensive third, Veraja jubilantly threw her hands into the air and pumped her fist before celebrating with her teammates. 

It was Mucci again sending a service into a dangerous area in the 57th minute, which led to the second Stevens goal. Setting up just outside the left edge of the 18, Mucci drove her service right near the six-yard box, where Budka rose above the pack and headed the ball over the reach of Hannah Pachecho into the top of the goal. 

With the victory, Stevens improved to 9-0-2 over its last six conference tournaments, dating back to the program's tenure in the Empire. Over the 11 matches, covering 1,032:22, the Ducks have conceded just six goals (0.52 goals-against average)..

Women's Soccer will be joining Men's Soccer, Women's Volleyball and Field Hockey in competing for a MAC Freedom title Saturday. It marks the first time since 2015 that all four fall team sports will be competing in a conference championship contest. 

Turning Point
  • With the Ducks holding onto a one-goal advantage, DiDario made a splendid save on Emma Ribeiro in the 69th minute. 
  • Ribeiro had broken free from her defender, but DiDario came off her line and made a sliding save of Ribeiro's shot to preserve the Ducks' advantage.

Inside the Numbers
  • Stevens finished with a 15-14 advantage in shots. The Ducks have outshot 16 of their 18 opponents. 
  • Each side registered six shots on target.
  • DeSales held a 12-8 edge in corners, although six came in a five-minute stretch in the second half. 
  • Prior to scoring the game-winning goal, Budka blocked Kerrigan de Meij's try in the 55th minute, helping Stevens transition from defense to offense. 
  • Mucci now leads the team with four assists. 
  • Stevens improved to 5-2 all-time against the Bulldogs, including wins in each of the last four meetings.

From the Pitch - Senior Nicole Veraja
  • "Great comeback by the team! We stayed together, we stayed the course, and we came out victorious. It is what we have done all year and I am really proud we pulled through again."

From the Sidelines - Head Coach Jeff Parker
  • "Very proud of the team for their performance this afternoon. It almost seems like it's not a Stevens match until something first occurs in our opponent's favor and we experienced it again today. It happens. We acknowledged it. Dealt with it and moved on. Our resolve was on full display as we were able to turn things around and take advantage of a great opportunity. We knew the second half would be tough and we were fortunate that our group's energy, attitude and effort got us in front and kept us there."
  • "We're looking forward to the chance to compete again on Saturday with an NCAA berth at stake. This team has earned that opportunity and I can't wait to take the field with them."

Up Next
  • Women's Soccer will play either Misericordia or Wilkes in the MAC Freedom Championship on Nov. 6.
  • Full match information will be posted to StevensDucks.com once available.

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