HOBOKEN, N.J. (September 28, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team improved to 4-4 on the season with a dominating 3-0 win over the University of Scranton on Wednesday evening at the De Baun Athletic Complex. Sophomore back Megan Traub led the Ducks with a goal and an assist. The loss drops Scranton to 6-2 on the season.
Stevens came out and looked superb throughout the entire first half, dominating field position, possession, the stat-sheet and the scoreboard.
The Ducks jumped on the board just 2:03 into the action on a perfectly executed penalty corner. Senior midfielder Jillian Price hit out to Traub who touched once and blasted a shot into the lower-left corner for her fourth goal of the season.
Stevens continued to pour on the pressure, generating shot after shot and penalty corner after penalty corner. Price narrowly missed two goals herself, missing inches left once and getting denied by senior goalie Alexandria Marandino (Granby, Conn.) with a spectacular kick save. The senior goalie made a remarkable 13 saves in the first half and singlehandedly kept the Royals in the game.
The Ducks pushed the lead to two (2-0) in the 29th minute on a play that originated on another corner. This time, the ball was tossed in front and senior midfielder Mallory Swanson found junior forward Marguerite Chavez on the right post for the tap in. It was the third goal of the season and third in as many games for the Oceanport, N.J. native.
Stevens ended the first half with a 20-5 advantage in shots and an 8-2 edge in corners. Marandino made 13 saves in the opening 35 minutes of play.
The early moments of the second half saw Scranton (6-2) apply some pressure but the Ducks were able to withstand and swing the momentum back in their direction. Each team had several strong chances, but the Ducks began to dominate things over the final 20 minutes and essentially sealed the win with a goal with 8:02 left.
The play once again started on a corner started by Price. She hit out to Traub who quickly slid a pass to her right and found junior back Samantha Weisman. Weisman controlled, made a ankle-breaking fake before firing a shot in the lower-left corner for her second goal in as many games.
Stevens, winners of three-straight games and four of its last five, has been lighting up the scoreboard with three goals or more in its last five games. The Ducks have 23 markers in that span.
Senior goalie Krysten Suarez recorded her second shutout of the season and was credited with three saves. Marandino finished with 17 stops in the loss.
The Ducks ended with a 33-7 advantage in shots and a 20-5 edge in penalty corners.