HOBOKEN, N.J. – In a thrilling season opener, the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team, No. 12 in the NFHCA preseason poll, kicked off its 2026 campaign Tuesday afternoon with a 4-3 win over York (Pa.) from DeBaun Athletic Complex.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Ducks made a strong opening statement when reigning MAC Freedom Defensive Player of the Year
Lauren Flynn fired one off a Spartans defender and into the cage. Flynn made an even bigger impact on the other side of the field around the midway mark of the opening period, recording a pair of defensive saves 20 seconds apart, helping the Ducks keep York off the board despite five first-quarter penalty corners.
After the Ducks finally cleared the zone and earned a penalty corner of their own, senior
Molly DiCampli played far side to classmate
Jess Kopernick, who delivered a strike that found its way through a sea of sticks for a 2-0 Ducks lead.
York finally broke through on their seventh penalty corner of the first half less than 90 seconds into the second quarter, then knotted the game at two three minutes later.
The score did not remain tied for long as less than a minute later, reigning conference Rookie of the Year
Brooke Hughes dribbled toward the end line near side, then threw one back across the box to the waiting stick of junior
Ava Pelletier, who re-directed into an open net.
After nearly 18 scoreless minutes of game time, the Spartans again equalized at three in the final six minutes of the third quarter,
The fourth quarter proved to be the quietest offensively of the day for both teams, who registered just five total shots (fewer than half as many as any other frame), but the Ducks withstood a 31-shot afternoon from York and converted when it counted most.
Senior
Sophia Cozza took possession on the edge of the far sideline roughly halfway between midfield and the end line in the final 45 seconds, dribbled around a defender, cut toward goal just inside the end line and threw a pass across the box for Kopernick who one-timed her second of the day just inside the near side post.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Flynn finished with three defensive saves, tying the program single-game record, and moved into a tie for third all-time with nine
- Making her first career start in the cage, junior Natalie Ward stopped 15 shots, the most saves by any Stevens keeper since Emily Franco stopped 19 against Rowan on September 14, 2022
- Kopernick's second goal was the latest regulation game-winning goal since Nolie Prouty scored with 10 seconds left in a 3-2 win over Ithaca on September 17, 2016
UP NEXT
Stevens plays a pair at home this weekend when it hosts Widener on Saturday at 11 AM before an in-state showdown with Rowan on Sunday at 12 Noon.
#AllRise
