HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 22, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology men’s soccer team will host the Empire 8 Championship for the second time in as many years. The Ducks improved to 5-0 in the Empire 8 and 13-2 overall with a 5-0 win over conference foe St. John Fisher College on Saturday at the De Baun Athletic Complex to clinch the regular-season title. Five different players scored and the Ducks received a goal and an assist from sophomore Stephen Dunbar (Johns Creek, Ga.) senior Anthony Roden (Red Creek, N.Y.), and junior Zach Adler (McKinney, Texas).
After some back-and-forth over the first five minutes, the Ducks started to force the issue and take control of the match. Roden put the Ducks on the board and scored the game-winner 9:55 in, heading in a Zach Adler (McKinney, Texas) corner into the upper-left 90. It was Roden’s fourth goal of the season and Adler’s team-high ninth assist.
Just 48 seconds later, Dunbar scored to put the Ducks up 2-0. Classmate Curtis Stecyk (Boulder, Colo.) took a shot and Dunbar was able to put away the rebound for his team-high seventh of the season.
In the 20th minute, Stevens scored in a similar manner to its second goal of the contest. Senior Zach Bowman (La Plata, Md.) fired a shot on goal and Adler was there to clean up the rebound for his sixth goal of the year. Bowman notched his sixth assist on the play.
Junior Victor Daza (North Plainfield, N.J.) recorded his sixth marker of 2011 on a picture-perfect goal in the 62nd minute. Roden sent a long ball down the right seam to Dunbar who touched once and made a perfect cross to Daza in front.
Sophomore Zeke Hemme (Louisville, Ken.) recorded his first of the season following a free kick by sophomore Christina Grapel (Grass Valey, Calif.). Grapel fired on goal and Fisher goalie Kyle Metcalfe (Pittsford, N.Y.) made the save, but the ball bounced to Hemme who headed it home for the score.
Junior Paul Killian (Ellicott City, Md.) earned the win in goal for the Ducks, making three saves. It was his third-straight shutout.
Stevens ended with a 17-4 edge in shots and a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks. Prior to the match, seniors Tarik Kramcha (Denver, Colo.), Benjamin Hirsch (Montvale, N.J.), Pete Bednarsky (Hackettstown, N.J.), Bowman and Roden were honored.