CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (April 7, 2021)  – Seven different student-athletes found the back of the net as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team raced out to a 14-goal lead en route to an 18-3 victory over DeSales University Wednesday afternoon in a MAC Freedom matchup at the DeSales Turf Fields. 

Sophomore Zoe Cook began the Ducks' first-half offensive surge on the game's opening possession, converting a feed from junior Camryn Rogers to put Stevens in front for good just 90 seconds into the contest. Rogers had earned the opening draw control and Cook forced DeSales' Rachel Sheubrooks to make a save 30 seconds into the game before Cook broke through on her second shot of the game. 

Cook finished with three goals on the day for her second straight hat trick and third of the season. The Princeton, New Jersey native added a pair of assists to finish with a career-high five points. Rogers matched Cook's five-point output with four goals and an assist for her second hat trick of the season. 

Stevens to 4-3 on the year and to 3-1 in MAC Freedom play with the victory, while extending its winning streak to two. The Ducks are currently third in the MAC Freedom standings, behind both Misericordia University and FDU-Florham. Today's contest was the first-ever meeting between the programs.

"I am really happy with our performance today," said head coach Karen Shaddock. "Everyone stepped up and did their job. We had so many threats all over the field."

Junior Natalie Fitzpatrick netted her first career hat trick as nine different student-athletes found the back, matching a season-high. Fifth-years Emily Shanklin and Kyra Bednarski each scored twice, with juniors Maeve McGovern, Gale Bennett and Morgan Westerby joining first-year Emily Leiby in rounding out the goal scorers. Fitzpatrick, Bednarski, Westerby, junior Josie Cook and sophomore Maris Daly each added an assist to complete the Ducks' scoring.

Tori Brennan had a pair of goals to lead DeSales, who dropped to 2-3 on the year and to 2-1 in league play. The Ducks' victory snapped DeSales' two-game winning streak.

Senior Peyton Taylor drew the start and goal and made a pair of saves over 30 minutes to earn the victory. Junior Lauren Cunniff relieved at the start of the second half with sophomore Kate Killian taking over midway through the final period. Sheubrooks had eight saves for DeSales.

After Cook's marker gave the Ducks an early lead, Stevens continued to thrive offensively, scoring on their first four shots to take a four-goal lead less than eight minutes into the game. Bednarski collected her 30th of the season to follow Cook and goals from Rogers and Fitzpatrick forced a DeSales timeout. Bedarnski's three-point outing pulled the Syracuse, New York native to within two points of second place on the program's all-time career scoring list. 

After the DeSales timeout, the Ducks picked up right where they left off. Westerby earned the draw control and after a failed clear attempt by DeSales, fifth-year Kayla Buell kick-started the Ducks' transition offense that led to Rogers' second goal of the day. 

A foul by DeSales gave the Ducks another chance to work in the attacking third. Rogers would complete the hat trick to give the Ducks a six goal lead. Stevens scored four times in the three minutes following the DeSales timeout to push the lead to eight, with Shanklin's 15th goal punctuating the sequence.

Brennan would finally break through for DeSales five minutes into the second half with Eilis McCall netting the Bulldogs' second goal of the contest.  Four Ducks: Cook, McGovern, Bennett and Leiby scored down the stretch to provide the final margin.

Stevens finished with a 27-9 advantage in shots, including an 18-1 margin in the first half, and a remarkable 26 of the Ducks' 27 shots registered on-goal. Rogers led all student-athletes with eight shots, with Cook and Bednarski each adding five, as the Ducks' nine goal scorers accounted for all of the team's shooting totals. Brennan paced DeSales with six shots.

The Ducks forced DeSales into 21 turnovers, the second-most for the Bulldogs this season. Of the Bulldogs' 21 miscues, Stevens caused eight of them, with junior Meredith Conlin registering a pair of caused turnovers. The Cortlandt Manor, New York native ranked ranked fourth in the country in causing turnovers one season ago. Azlin Myers had two caused turnovers to lead DeSales, who registered seven caused turnovers on the Ducks' 13 miscues.

Behind Daly's career-high nine, the Ducks finished the game with a 13-9 advantage in draw controls. Rogers added a pair of draw controls with Westerby collecting her 13th draw of the season to round out the Ducks' efforts. Kelsey Pogonyi and Brennan had two each to lead DeSales.

Stevens had a slim 15-13 edge in ground balls. Zoe Cook picked up four to lead the Ducks with Rogers and Josie Cook adding two each. Sheubrooks led both sides with five. 

The Ducks were 11 for 14 on clears, while holding the Bulldogs to just 8 for 16.

McGovern accounted for the Ducks' lone free-position shot and goal of the contest, scoring the team's 16th goal of the afternoon. McCall scored on an eight-meter attempt for DeSales, who finished the game 1 for 3. 

Up Next: Women's Lacrosse heads to Dallas, Pennsylvania for a conference matchup with Misericordia University on Sunday, Apr. 11. It is believed to be the first meeting between the teams.

Please note that all event times, dates and opponents are subject to change.

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