Scranton, Pa. – The No. 17 Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team battled through 80 minutes of action before falling to the University of Scranton 4-3 in a shootout Wednesday afternoon.
The Ducks (5-4) received goals from
Molly DiCampli,
Sophia Cozza and
Julia Katz as the two sides finished regulation and two overtime periods tied at three.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stevens wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as DiCampli found the back of the cage at the 72 seconds in to give the Ducks a 1-0 advantage. Stevens continued to generate opportunities, with
Lauren Flynn putting a shot on goal in the ninth minute, but Scranton pulled even at 9:32. The Ducks answered at the end of the quarter as Cozza scored off a feed from
Ava Pelletier at the 15-minute mark to send Stevens into the second quarter with a 2-1 lead.
The Ducks earned a pair of penalty corners early in the second quarter but were unable to extend their advantage. Scranton eventually tied the contest at two at the 24:11 mark. Stevens' defense kept the game level through the remainder of the half, sending the teams into the break deadlocked at two.
Scranton applied pressure to begin the third quarter, forcing Ward to make three saves over the opening four minutes of the period. Stevens responded with opportunities of its own, as Flynn sent an attempt wide before Pelletier had a shot blocked following a penalty corner. The Ducks held Scranton off the board throughout the quarter to keep the score tied at two entering the final 15 minutes of regulation.
Stevens regained the lead less than two minutes into the fourth. After DiCampli forced a save and Flynn had an attempt blocked, Katz found the back of the cage at 46:56 to put the Ducks ahead 3-2. Scranton answered at 54:01 to tie the contest for the third time. Stevens generated a pair of late chances from
Jenna Mayer, but both were turned away as the game headed to overtime tied at three.
In the opening overtime period,
Taylor Brooks and
Jenna Piantieri each put shots on goal, while Ward made a pair of saves to keep Scranton off the board. Scranton earned a penalty corner as time expired but could not convert, sending the contest to a second overtime.
The Ducks controlled much of the attacking play in the second overtime, putting four shots on goal over a span of just more than three minutes but were unable to find the winner.
Scranton prevailed in the ensuing shootout. Flynn, Cozza and
Brooke Hughes took the three attempts for Stevens, but all three were denied, while Scranton converted each of its first three opportunities to secure the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Stevens finished with a 21-18 advantage in shots and a 13-11 edge in shots on goal.
- Katz recorded her second collegiate goal and the first since the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Championship Game last fall.
- Natalie Ward made seven saves over 80 minutes, while Kaitlyn Lee added a defensive save.
UP NEXT
The Ducks open MAC Freedom play on Saturday, heading to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. to face King's College at 1:00 pm.
