Hoboken, N.J. –
Jenna Piantieri and
Lauren Flynn scored second-half goals as the No. 12 Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team rallied from an early deficit to defeat No. 14 Rowan University, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at the DeBaun Athletic Complex.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rowan (0-2) applied pressure from the opening whistle and forced Ward into a save less than two minutes into the contest. The Profs earned their first penalty corner shortly after and converted the opportunity, as Gracie Merrick deflected in a shot from Mia Foti. Stevens (3-0)responded by generating three penalty corners over the remainder of the opening quarter.
Molly DiCampli had an attempt blocked before
Sophia Cozza and
Jess Kopernick each sent shots wide, but the Ducks were unable to find the equalizer.
Rowan continued to threaten late in the period, but the Stevens defense kept the deficit at one. Flynn recorded a defensive save in the 12th minute before Ward turned away two additional attempts as the Ducks entered the second quarter trailing 1-0. Scoring chances were limited for both sides during much of the second period. Flynn came up with her second defensive save of the afternoon in the 23rd minute before Stevens began to build pressure late in the half. The Ducks earned back-to-back penalty corners in the 28th minute, with
Taylor Brooks forcing a save before Piantieri sent an attempt high as Rowan carried its one-goal advantage into halftime.
Mayer had an attempt blocked early in the third stanza before Brooks forced another save by the Rowan keeper. The pressure eventually paid off in the 38th minute as the home side found the equalizer. Stevens earned another penalty corner before Piantieri found the back of the cage at 37:20, with DiCampli picking up an assist on the play.
Stevens took its first lead of the afternoon just over three minutes into the fourth quarter. Pelletier put a shot on goal at 47:58 to earn a penalty corner, and the Ducks capitalized moments later when Flynn scored off an assist from Kopernick at 48:10. The marker was Flynn's second of the season and gave Stevens a 2-1 advantage. Rowan pushed forward in search of the equalizer over the closing minutes. Ward made back-to-back saves in the 58th minute before the Profs earned a penalty corner with less than two minutes remaining. The ensuing attempt was blocked as Stevens held on for the one-goal victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Natalie Ward made six saves while allowing just one goal.
- Brooks put both of her attempts on goal, while Piantieri, Flynn and Pelletier each recorded one shot on target.
- Flynn recorded two defensive saves in addition to scoring the game-winning goal. With her two defensive stops, the junior moved into third all-time with 11 defensive saves and is two away from second place.
- Stevens earned nine penalty corners, including three in both the first and third quarters.
- Rowan finished with a 15-12 advantage in shots and a 9-5 edge in shots on goal.
UP NEXT
Stevens hits the road for the first time this season on Saturday when the Ducks travel to Swarthmore College for a noon contest.
