Stevens Men's Soccer Opens E8 Play with Dominant Win at Alfred
ALFRED, N.Y. (September 24, 2011) – Sophomore goalkeeper Paul Killian earned the Stevens Institute of Technology men’s soccer team’s second-consecutive shutout as the Ducks (6-2, 1-0) made an unassisted goal from junior Zach Adler stand up in a 1-0 victory over conference rival Alfred University (3-4-1, 0-2). With the win on Saturday, the Ducks run their Empire 8 unbeaten streak to 14 games.
Stevens dominated the match statistically, outshooting their hosts 16-0 on the day and enjoying a 12-1 advantage on corners.
The Ducks forced pressure early in the match as sophomore Curtis Stecyk’s first shot of the game hit the post and bounced back to him for another shot on goal. The second attempt was barely deflected wide, setting up an early corner kick opportunity less than one minute into the game.
Alfred continued to absorb the Stevens attack throughout the first half, led by senior Elliot Thorpe (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) who recorded seven saves in the goal for the Saxons. In contrast, Killian and the Ducks earned the shutout without allowing a single shot, let alone a shot on goal. Credit is due to the Stevens back line of Leonardo Casas, Tarik Kramcha, Matthew Riley and Pete Bednarsky for their exemplary play in the match.
The game went into the break as a scoreless tie, but Adler quickly unknotted it less than five minutes into the second half with an unassisted goal at 49:24. Stevens would continue to pepper Thorpe with six more shots in the second, though the Ducks would not net an insurance goal.
It mattered little as the Saxons never mounted a serious scoring threat in the match, giving Stevens the 1-0 conference win and a 1-0 record in the Empire 8.