Korczukowski and Fink
Dave Janosz
0
Eastern EUFH23 (2-5)
8
Winner Stevens STEVENS (5-2)
Eastern EUFH23
(2-5)
0
Final
8
Stevens STEVENS
(5-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Eastern EUFH23 0 0 0 0 0
Stevens STEVENS 2 3 0 3 8

Game Recap: Field Hockey | | Stevens Athletic Communications

Field Hockey Blanks Eastern 8-0 for Second Straight Win

Hessels' early strike sparks Ducks' offense to most goals since 2021

HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 23, 2023) – Senior Dani Hessels set the early tone with a goal in the second minute as the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team defeated Eastern University 8-0 Saturday in a non-conference contest at a soggy DeBaun Athletic Complex. 

Junior Sarah Korczukowski and first-year Jess Kopernick each scored twice as nine different players found the scoresheet for the Ducks, who won their second straight to improve to 5-2. Interestingly, the Ducks' eight-goal output more than doubled the program's all-time offensive total against Eastern, although Stevens entered today's matchup with a lead in the all-time series.

Sophomore Lily Wierzbicki earned the victory in goal, although Stevens' offense and a spirited effort in the midfield that didn't let Eastern come forward, enabling the second-year netminder to earn the win without facing a shot on-goal. First-year Maria Dante had the lone save of the contest for Stevens in the third quarter. Senior Amanda Murnick also saw time between the pipes as all three goalies saw action for the second straight game.

Abby Agapito made 14 saves for Eastern, who dropped its third straight to fall to 5-2. The Ducks have won four straight contests between the sides. 

Stevens' eight goals are the most for the program since Oct. 20, 2021, when the Ducks found the back of the net nine times in a shutout victory over Delaware Valley.

The Rundown
  • Hessels opened scoring early in the contest, tipping home a redirection from graduate student Lynda Farinella just 93 seconds into the game. The early goal marked the second first-quarter marker of the season for the Ducks, who would go on to win both contests that featured a Duck goal in the opening 15 minutes.
  • Junior Emily Smart doubled the Ducks' advantage in the 13th minute with a nifty backhanded goal for her team-leading fourth marker of the season. Smart has found the back of the net in each of the last two games and in three of her last four.
  • The Ducks poured it on with three goals in the second quarter, with Korczukowski and Kopernick combining for all three goals to provide the offense. 
  • After being held off the scoreboard in the third quarter, despite a game-high 13 shots in the period, the Ducks scored three times on eight shots over the final 15 minutes to provide the final margin of victory. While the Ducks maintained their effectiveness offensively in the second half, they also held Eastern to just a single shot over the final 30 minutes. 
  • The Ducks earned 13 penalty corners, while conceding just three, and none in the fourth quarter.

Top Performers
  • Korczukowski netted her first two goals of the season less than seven minutes apart in the second quarter, with the second coming after the Ducks kept the ball in play following Agapito's redirection of Korczukowski's initial shot. The Hackettstown, New Jersey's native two goals surrounded the first of Kopernick's goals, which marked the latter's first collegiate tally.
  • Kopernick would add her second of the day in the 20th minute, perfectly tucking a shot just inside the left post.
  • Joining Kopernick in collecting their first career goals were classmates Kylee Scherer, who scored in the 49th minute, and Taylor Brooks, who had the final tally of the contest in the final minute. 
  • Kopernick also recorded her first career assist on Korczukowski's second goal. First-year Skyler Rill had a well-placed pass that led to Kopernick's second of the afternoon for her first career point, while junior Alisyn Fink handed out her first assist of the season.

For the Opponents
  • Sydney Davis had a scoring chance for Eastern in the 45th minute, pushing a shot towards the left side of the cage that Dante thwarted, leading to a penalty corner as the clock was expiring. 

Around the MAC Freedom 
  • Marywood 7, King's 1 (Sept. 21)
  • Albright 3, Delaware Valley 0 (Sept. 22)
  • FDU-Florham 2, Cedar Crest 0 (Sept. 22)
  • Lebanon Valley 2, Montclair State 1 (Sept. 22)
  • DeSales 7, Roanoke 3 (Sept. 23)
  • TCNJ 1, Arcadia 0 (Sept. 23)
  • King's vs. Neumann (Sept. 23) – 3:30 p.m.
  • Misericordia @ Ramapo - postponed

Coach's Comments
  • "I'm thrilled with the outcome of today's game, especially after our focus on offensive outcomes. This group has been focusing on how we are stronger together and the way we had so many people step up today is a true testament of just that. We are looking forward to continuing this momentum into the end of our non-conference slate!" – head coach Meredith Spencer-Blaetz

Up Next
  • Stevens continues non-conference play on Wednesday, Sept. 27 when the Ducks host Route 3 rival, Montclair State University at the DeBaun Athletic Complex. Each of the last three meetings between the teams was decided by a single goal, with two of the contests requiring extra time. Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

Athletic Department Social Media
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Field Hockey Social Media
Facebook: "Like" Stevens Field Hockey
Twitter: @stevensfh
Instagram: @stevensfieldhockey

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