Chester, Pa. – The Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team knocked off Widener University 5-2 in non-conference action Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After junior Sophia Cozza was denied on a penalty corner early in the contest, Stevens broke through midway through the opening frame. Off a corner, Lauren Flynn inserted the ball, and after a scramble in front, junior Molly DiCampli corralled a loose ball and slipped it past the sprawling goalkeeper to open the scoring.
The Ducks doubled the lead in the 10th minute when Cozza snapped a pass from the middle of the field to the left side. Gabi Moroney collected the ball and rifled a shot from just inside the circle past the keeper to make it 2-0. Stevens wasn’t finished with its first-quarter barrage, adding a third tally in the final 30 seconds. Cozza’s initial attempt was blocked, but the rebound bounced to Taylor Brooks, who buried the chance to extend the margin to three.
The Ducks’ defense clamped down in the second quarter, holding Widener to just two shot attempts, none of which reached the target. At halftime, Stevens led 3-0 and held a 13-3 edge in shots.
After having a pair of shots blocked early in the third, the Ducks struck again in the 38th minute. Off a restart, Brooks threaded a pass through traffic to Jenna Piantieri, who maneuvered around a defender and lifted a reverse chip inside the right post for her first career goal. The Pride finally tested Wierzbicki in the 44th minute, but the senior goalkeeper stood tall to preserve the four-goal cushion.
Stevens capped its scoring in the fourth quarter, again off a corner. After two initial shots were stopped, Flynn, who had inserted the corner, poked home the rebound through a crowd in front for her second career goal. Widener spoiled the shutout bid with two tallies in a 52-second span late in the frame, but the Ducks held firm to secure their second straight win to open the season.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Flynn’s goal was the second of her career; her first came against Albright on September 7, 2024.
- Piantieri’s marker was the first of her career after notching two assists across her first 14 collegiate games.
- First-years Rosella Birns, Kaitlyn Lee, and Kelly Nadzan each made their collegiate debuts.
UP NEXT
The Ducks continue their road swing Saturday, traveling to Reading, Pa. to face Albright College at 11 a.m.
