HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 21, 2024) - Junior Rebecca Guerra scored two goals and added two assists as the No. 17/17 Stevens Institute of Technology women's lacrosse team opened the season with a 10-8 victory over Bates in a non-conference contest Wednesday afternoon.

Head coach Karen Basciano picked up her 100th career victory with the win. The Ducks start the year 1-0 for the third-straight season. Stevens is now 2-0 all-time against the Bobcats, with the other win coming back in 2015. Bates opens the season 0-1.

Bates started the game on the front foot as they tallied the first two goals of the game inside the first two minutes. Stevens scored their first goal of the season at the 10:45 mark, as sophomore Stefanie Sellitto scored on an assist from fellow classmate Maddie Hogan. Bates would respond to go up 3-1, but the Ducks scored almost a minute after the Bobcats tallied their third, as Sellitto scored her second, this time from Guerra. With 3:49 left in the quarter Stevens tied it up, Guerra earned her first of the day, with junior Emily Smart providing the assist. It would remain tied at three at the end of the first. Bates would retake the lead at the 13:15 mark as they went up 4-3. The Bobcats would then double their lead later in the quarter. The Ducks had just one goal in the frame, coming from junior Alison Lax on an assist from Guerra. Bates led 5-3 at the break. 

Bates scored 58 seconds into the second half to take a 6-4 lead. The Ducks tied the game a few minutes later, as they scored back-to-back unassisted goals in just 41 seconds. Junior Anna Velardi and Guerra had the tallies. With 8:06 on the clock, the Bobcats struck again, taking a 7-6 lead. Despite trailing, Stevens scored the final three goals of the game to take a 9-7 advantage into the fourth. Senior Emily Leiby scored a free-position goal at the 4:51 mark that tied the game. Hogan then scored with 1:33 left to give the Ducks their first lead of the day. Hogan scored her second just 45 seconds later as the Ducks maintained the two-goal lead. Bates would get back within one with just under 12 minutes left in the game. With 5:35 remaining in the game, Leiby tallied her second to restore the two goal advantage. From there, the Ducks would shut down the Bobcats, en route to their first victory.

Top Performers

• Guerra also caused two turnovers and picked up one ground ball.
• Hogan tallied two goals and an assist.
• Sellitto and Leiby each scored twice.
• Sophomore Felicity Heilferty picked up five ground balls.
• Sophomore Eran Gleason caused three turnovers.
• Heilferty made eight saves on 16 shots faced.

The Opponent

• Caroline Keating scored four goals.
• Sadie O'Neil provided two assists.
• Lauren Wong scored twice.
• Maddy Roelofs picked up six ground balls.
• Avery Lehman made nine saves on 19 shots faced.

Around the MAC Freedom

• Lebanon Valley 7, Dickinson 15 F/SUN
• Marywood 12, Misericordia 15 F/MON
• Gwynedd Mercy 11, King's 16
• Scranton 16, Lebanon Valley 6
• Arcadia 7, Widener 10

Up Next: The Ducks are back in action next Saturday as they host Mary Washington. The game is set for 3:30 p.m. The Ducks are 1-0 against the Eagles all-time, winning the only other matchup last March. Emily Leiby scored two goals in that contest. Links for live stats and video are posted to stevensducks.com