Stevens Takes Seventh-Straight E8 Title with 2-0 Win over Utica
The Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team won its seventh-straight Empire 8 title and 11th-straight conference championship overall, defeating second-seeded Utica College, 2-0, Saturday night in front of a huge crowd at the De Baun Athletic Complex.
With the win, Stevens earns the Empire 8's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship that begins next week. The Ducks will find out their fate Monday at a time TBD.
Sophomore forward
Joe Cellitti was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, with senior back
Zeke Hemme, sophomore forward
Carson Pryor and senior midfielder
Edward Rupp joining him on the 2013 Empire 8 Championship All-Tournament Team.
The win is the 11th-straight for Stevens as it improves to 16-1-1 overall. The Ducks are now unbeaten in conference tournament play since 2003 and have never been beaten in an Empire 8 Championship tournament, going 13-0-1.
The shutout is the 11th of the year for Stevens, with senior goalkeeper
Paul Killian earning his fifth of the year. The veteran also earned his 15th win of the year.
For the most part, Stevens controlled the ball and field position, but the Ducks were unable to get a goal for much of the contest. Utica goalkeeper Anthony Caruso made several splendid saves and the Ducks just missed on several attempts. Caruso was named to the All-Tournament team for his performance along with teammates and fellow seniors Kevin McAllister and Chris Perkins.
After a scoreless first 81:45 of action, Stevens finally got on the board after a Utica card resulted in a free kick from 30-yards out on the far sideline. Sophomore back
Harrison Kane lofted a service in the box, moving right-to-left across the mouth of the goal. Rupp came charging in five-yards off the right post and was able to put his shot up and into the right side of the cage for his third goal of the season. The assist was the fourth of the year for the Kane.
Utica (10-10-0) was not able to muster much after the Stevens goal, especially being that the Pioneers were a man down because of red card, and Stevens then sealed the win when Pryor converted a penalty kick to make it 2-0 with 2:00 on the clock. The play leading to the penalty kick saw senior forward
Stephen Dunbar with the ball in the left side of the box after beating his defender. The defender then attempted a slide tackle that took out Dunbar.
Stevens ended with a 16-7 margin in shots, with Killian having to make only one total save in the game. Each team took a pair of corner kicks.
The Ducks have allowed one goal all season long against Empire 8 foes and now have a 52-7 edge in goals scored.
2013 Empire 8 Men's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team
Stevens - #18
Joe Cellitti – So. – F (MVP)
Stevens - #8
Edward Rupp – Sr. – F
Stevens - #9
Carson Pryor – So. – F
Stevens - #15
Zeke Hemme – Sr. – B
Utica – #1 Anthony Caruso – Sr. – GK
Utica –#5 Chris Perkins – Sr. – B
Utica - #15 – Kevin McAllister – Sr. – F
Nazareth - #8 Luke Elston – Sr. – F
Nazareth - #9 Scott Duarte – Sr. – F
Ithaca - #9 Cobi Byrne – Fr. – F
Ithaca - #11 – AJ Wolfanger – Jr. – M