No. 16 Stevens Drops NCAA Matchup with Brandeis
Jonathan McCue
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (November 11, 2017) – The No. 16 Stevens Institute of Technology women's soccer team fell to Brandeis University 3-1 in the opening round of the 2017 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship on Saturday.
Gabby Saade scored the goal for the Ducks.
Click here to see the postgame interview with Stevens' four captains and Coach Parker
The Judges dominated the first 10 minutes, but at 32:15 Saade and Olivia Butera staged a counterattack following a corner kick to produce the first quality scoring chance for the Ducks
In the 20th minute, Gabby Pagkalinawan stole the ball inside the box and challenged the 'keeper, but Brandeis' Frankie Pinto came up with the save.
In between those Stevens chances, Brandeis had hit the crossbar in their best scoring chance of the first half.
In addition to four first-half saves, Lindsey Mahnken cut off at least five Brandeis crossing passes during the first period.
The Judges led the first half shot count 7-4, but the game was still scoreless.
Brandeis drew first blood in the 51st minute. Sasha Sunday scored with an assist by Samantha Schwartz for the first goal allowed by the Ducks in exactly 500 minutes.
With 18 minutes to go, Stevens was buzzing, earned a pair of corner kicks and a few good scoring changces, but could not come up with the equalizer. Instead, with Stevens pushing up, the Judges scored again with 13 minutes to go to take a 2-0 lead.
Unwilling to go quietly into the good night, the Ducks surged forward and were able to cut the lead in half. Gabby Saade converted a crossing pass into the back of the cage to give Stevens a fighting chance in the waning minutes.
A fluke goal in the 88th minute put an end to the drama as Brandeis will advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament to face host Williams College on Sunday.
Stevens ends its season with an 11-4-4 record and as Empire 8 Champions for the third consecutive season.