Nikish Goal with 17 Seconds to Play Lifts Stevens Over Wesley in ECAC Quarters
HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 9, 2011) – Junior captain Mary Nikish (Pittsford, N.Y.) scored with 17 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team to a 3-2 win over Wesley College in the quarterfinals of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Mid-Atlantic Championship on Wednesday night at the De Baun Athletic Complex. Junior Marguerite Chavez (Oceanport, N.J.) assisted the game-winner and tallied one of her own, while sophomore Rachel Chavez (Oceanport, N.J.) had a goal and an assist as well.
Stevens will advance to play in the semifinals of the tournament on Saturday against top-seeded Lebanon Valley College. LVC defeated McDaniel College in the one-versus-eight matchup. That game will take place at Alvernia College with the winner taking on the victor of second-seeded Alvernia and third-seeded Juniata College who both advanced with Wednesday wins.
The Ducks (12-7) controlled field position and possession in the first half but did not have anything to show for it on the scoreboard. They ended the stanza with an 8-1 advantage in shots and a 7-1 edge in penalty corners.
The Ducks had several strong chances in the opening 35, the best coming in the fourth minute when a pair of corners helped generate four shots but goalie Amanda Hudson (Frederica, Del.) made three saves in the sequence for the Wolverines.
Wesley (12-10) came out quickly in the second and jumped out to 1-0 lead when sophomore Madison Leone (Dover, Del.) crossed to junior Danielle Tearl (Middletown, Del.) on the left post for the score, but the Ducks came right back, knotting the game at one apiece 4:20 later.
Senior captain Jillian Price (West Islip, N.Y.) created a turnover and ignited a breakaway down the middle of the field. The ball found Rachel Chavez who touched ahead to Marguerite Chavez who blasted a shot inside the right post from the left side of the circle for her 10th goal of the year.
Just 70 seconds later, Stevens went up 2-1 when Rachel Chavez notched her 12th of the season. The sophomore carried down the right side and into the circle before cutting against the grain and burying a reverse sweep into the right corner for a gorgeous goal.
The Wolverines tied things up 5:33 later when Leone tallied her 18th of the season and the two teams looked to be destined for overtime.
However, Stevens caused a turnover with 27 seconds left and made the most of its final possession. Marguerite Chavez dribbled into the left side of the circle before crossing in front. Nikish was able to gain control at the last second and knock in the game-winner with 17 seconds on the clock. It was her team-high 13th goal of the season and third game-winner.
Senior goalie Krysten Suarez (Long Valley, N.J.) made one save to earn the win in the cage for Stevens.
The Ducks ended with a19-6 advantage in shots and took 11 of the game’s 14 penalty corners. The Stevens midfield of Mallory Swanson (Princeton Junction, N.J.), Caroline Packowski (Jackson, N.J.), Chelsea Cresci (Wilmington, Del.) and Price were all solid all evening as was the Stevens defense. Samantha Weisman (Fairfax, Va.), Katie Achilles (Portsmouth, N.H.) and Megan Traub (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) held a Wesley team under three goals - a mark the Wolverines reached 12 times this season.