Stevens Wins E8 Women's Soccer Championship
HOBOKEN, N.J. – In a physical battle of nationally ranked teams in the Empire 8 Conference final, the No. 14 Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team won the 2015 Empire 8 Conference Championship with a 2-1 win over No. 20 Ithaca College, on Saturday evening at the De Baun Athletic Complex.
Freshman Zisi Komar was named the tournament MVP after scoring one goal in the championship game and two goals in the semifinal.
With 31:30 left in the first half, Stevens was awarded a penalty kick, but the ensuing attempt went off the right goal post to keep the game scoreless.
Just under five minutes later, the Ducks were taken down in the box again for their second PK attempt, and this time Kristen Goncalves capitalized to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Stevens increased its lead to 2-0 with 23:33 remaining in the half on a strike from Komar 20 yards out to the top right corner of frame that turned out to be the eventual game-winner.
The Bombers put together a couple opportunities with 10 minutes left in the half. Their first chance for a goal was saved off a shot from Jess Demczar, and then Megan Nash broke free from the defense and sent her shot wide of frame.
At the end of the first half, Ithaca was outshot, 17-8. Ithaca senior Beth Coppolecchia made eight saves over the opening 45 minutes, and finished the match with a season-high 13 stops.
Ithaca trimmed its deficit to 2-1 as Holly Niemiec was taken down in the box with 37 minutes left in regulation. Kelsey King stepped in for the penalty kick and snuck the shot passed Stevens' goalkeeper Lindsey Mahnken.
The Bombers had a few more chances for an equalizer, but three attempts were saved, three more shots were blocked and another sailed wide.
Total shots evened out in the second half, as the Bombers took 12 to Stevens' seven. There were a total of 30 fouls called in the match and four yellow cards were issued.
Stevens earned the NCAA Automatic bid and will find out their opponent on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. Ithaca will wait to see if its season will continue with an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.