Hoboken, N.J. – The second-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team scored three goals in the first quarter and never trailed during a 5-3 win over third-seeded DeSales in the MAC Freedom semifinals Wednesday night from DeBaun Athletic Complex.
Stevens moved to 14-5 for the season, while DeSales finished their 2024 at 9-10.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Emily Smart got the scoring started for the Ducks just past three minutes into the first quarter, burying one from in close after beating most of the Bulldogs defense into the circle off a restart.
DeSales (briefly) leveled things at one with a goal from Maddie Trocki off a penalty corner, but Stevens took the lead right back less than 40 seconds later when
Gabi Moroney chipped a cross in off a cross in front from
Sarah Korczukowski, again off a restart deep in the DeSales defensive end.
Makenna Quigley pushed the lead to 3-1 a little over three minutes later, redirecting Moroney's initial deflection of a shot off Korczukowski's stick.
Trocki pulled the Bulldogs back within one to start the scoring in the second quarter, sneaking a backhand under the pads of Ducks' goalkeeper
Lily Wierzbicki after dribbling in from the right.
Korczukowski pushed the lead back to two at the half after stifling a DeSales clearance attempt, dribbling around a defender, and scoring between the pads of goalkeeper Alyssa Schlossman with just under five minutes left in the quarter.
After a scoreless third quarter, Trocki again pulled DeSales within one in the fourth, completing her hat trick in the process, but after
Julia Zatyko was taken down in the circle, Korczukowski put the game on ice with a penalty stroke inside the final four minutes. DeSales recorded a single off-target attempt the rest of the way.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Ducks improved to 5-3 against DeSales since joining the MAC Freedom with their fourth straight win in the head-to-head, outscoring the Bulldogs 15-4 during that stretch.
- The team tied the single-season program record for goals with 76, set back in 2013.
FROM THE FIELD
"Incredible post season game! This is what November hockey is all about, high intensity 60 min. DeSales played a fantastic game but I am so proud of our group for the way we continued to compete and show up for each other. We are locked in for Saturday." -- Head Coach
Meredith Spencer-Blaetz
UP NEXT
The Ducks will travel to top-seeded Arcadia for the MAC Freedom Championship game Saturday at 1 pm.