HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 16, 2010) – The fifth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology men’s soccer team topped conference rival Elmira College, 5-0, on Saturday afternoon at the De Baun Athletic Complex in a battle for first place in the Empire 8. That battle lasted for one half as the Ducks erupted for a goal late in the first and four more in the second as they improve to 4-0-1 in the Empire 8 and 9-0-3 overall. The loss drops the Soaring Eagles to 4-1-0 in the Empire 8 and 9-3-2 overall. The game-winner came off the foot of sophomore Zach Adler as both senior Nolan Sandberg and freshman Stephen Dunbar tallied two goals apiece.
The first half lacked a flow as there were 19 total fouls and the teams had trouble connecting passes with winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour. However, late in the half, the Ducks were able to break through with the game-winner. Elmira knocked the ball out of bounds deep in their own zone and Duck rookie Edward Rupp, who was making his second career start, took the throw-in. The freshman launched a nice toss to Adler deep in the penalty area and very close to the six-yard box. Adler controlled, spun toward the goal, found himself one-on-one with the keeper, and put it in for his second goal of the season with 1:12 remaining in the first half.
The two teams swapped sides in the second half, but 2:29 in, the Ducks scored in the exact same manner they did in the first. Rupp took a throw-in deep in the Soaring Eagle zone that bounced to a Duck attacker who tallied the goal. This time it was Sandberg who controlled and tucked his shot into the right corner.
Just 43 seconds later, the Ducks went up 3-0 with another tally from Sandberg. After an Elmira foul, Adler lined up on the right side about 33 yards away and lofted a perfect ball that Sandberg was able to head into the right side of the cage for the score. It was his tenth goal of the season and the third assist for Adler.
Dunbar’s second goal of the year came in the 74th minute on a rebound. Senior midfielder Michael Quijano created space, and blasted a shot that hammered the cross bar. Dunbar fought for the rebound, beat a pair of Elmira defenders, and touched in for the score.
Dunbar struck again 3:11 later thanks to a superb pass from Sandberg. The senior had the ball in the middle of the field 40 yards out. Dunbar made a move toward the goal and without looking, Sandberg hit the freshman in stride for the pretty tally.
Stevens ended the game with an 18-11 edge in shots but the Soaring Eagles could never crack the Stevens defense to generate a quality scoring chance. Senior goalkeeper Zach Carr made seven saves for the Ducks, who recorded their 11th shutout in 12 games this season. Elmira took three corners compared to two for Stevens.
Soaring Eagle keeper Alex Todd (Elmira, N.Y.) made four saves in the loss.
Sandberg led the Ducks with five points on the day and Dunbar had four. Adler had three in the offensive uprising which saw Stevens score a season-high five times.
At 4-0-1 in the Empire 8, the Ducks and their 13 points are ahead of Elmira (12 points – 4-1-0) and Nazareth (12 points – 4-1-0). All three teams have two conference matches remaining but Stevens has the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Ducks have outscored conference opponents 15-0 in five matches.
Stevens will return to action on Wednesday when it takes on Rutgers University-Newark at 7 p.m. in Newark, N.J. Stevens will then return home for the final three games of the 2010 regular season.