Stevens Wins Second Consecutive Empire 8 Title; Schuckers Named MVP
HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 6, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women’s soccer team won its second-straight Empire 8 Conference championship after defeating Nazareth College, 2-0, at the De Baun Athletic Complex on November 6. Stevens’ senior Kathleen Schuckers (Lincoln Park, N.J.) was named tournament Most Valuable Player for her role in the Ducks two victories.
Stevens used two second half goals to top the Golden Flyers and earn the automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament that begins next weekend with a 14-3-3 overall record.
The first chance of the game to put a tally on the board went to the Ducks, as Schuckers took a shot on goal just five minutes into the game, but her attempt was saved. Nazareth recorded its first shot on goal four minutes later, only to be turned away by senior Kaitlin McClymont (Corpus Christi, Texas).
McClymont only needed to make three saves in the contest to earn her 11th victory and fourth shutout of the season in all 90 minutes of play.
The first Ducks score came from sophomore Bridgette Barden (Redondo Beach, Calif.) in the 66th minute of action. Barden received a pass from fellow sophomore Lindsay Stoll (Bellevue, Wash.) and ripped a shot from just inside the 18-yard box that rang off the crossbar. The ball caromed at a near 90-degree angle downward to just cross the goal line and notch the game-winner.
Before the Barden score, Stevens ran off five consecutive shots in a three-minute span.
Not even five minutes later, Stoll picked up the second goal for Stevens, as she was set up by a centering pass from junior Paige Allen (Manalapan, N.J.). The pass left Stoll with a 1-on-1 opportunity with the Nazareth goalkeeper with no defenders in the vicinity to force a contested shot on goal and sent her strike over the outstretched arms of Abbie Carey.
In the first half, play was even through the entire 45 minutes, as Stevens held a slight edge in shots, 6-5. Nazareth applied pressure to the Ducks’ defense with six corners in the opening period but were never able to capitalize.
The contest was truly a tale of two halves. Stevens came out of the break and controlled momentum for the remainder of the game, outshooting the Golden Flyers, 12-2. Defensively, the Ducks only allowed Nazareth to take two shots and contested every possession the Golden Flyers sustained with physical play and timely tackles.
The Empire 8 MVP, Schuckers, netted two goals and assisted on another in the Ducks’ 3-1 semifinal triumph over St. John Fisher College on November 5.
Stevens will wait to see when, where and who it will play in the NCAA tournament tomorrow afternoon.