Story Courtesy of Stevens Athletics

Hoboken, N.J. – The No. 11 and top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team captured its third consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Championship with a 3-0 victory over No. 2 Misericordia University Saturday afternoon.
 
Junior defender Aleah Dinmore was named the MAC Freedom Tournament MVP for Stevens (18-2), while Taylor Brooks, Julia Katz, and Sophia Cozza provided the goals in the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The opening 15 minutes were played primarily in the midfield, with Brooke Hughes recording the only shot of the first quarter. Cozza produced the first shot on target 1:33 into the second but was denied by Misericordia goalkeeper Sarah Bogina. The Ducks increased the pressure midway through the stanza, earning three consecutive penalty corners.
 
Stevens finally broke through the Cougars' defense in the 24th minute. Off a restart just outside the circle, Dinmore switched the field with a pass to Molly DiCampli, who sent a quick feed to Brooks. The junior fired a low shot into the right side of the cage to make it 1-0.

The Ducks' defense was dominant, not allowing a single shot in the first half as Stevens outshot Misericordia 4-0 over the opening 30 minutes.
 
Bogina kept it a one-goal game early in the third, turning aside attempts by DiCampli and Lauren Flynn. In the 34th minute, Stevens doubled its lead when defender Emilia Lopes slipped a pass down the left side to a streaking Katz. Katz took two dribbles and rifled a shot past the diving goalkeeper for her first career goal.
 
The Ducks added to their advantage less than four minutes later. DiCampli won a battle along the sideline and chipped a pass into the circle that was nudged forward by Flynn. Jenna Piantieri fired toward goal, and Cozza pounced on the rebound to extend the margin to 3-0. Misericordia, held without a shot through three quarters, finally managed an attempt with 1:56 remaining, but Celeste Hoffman's effort went wide as Stevens ran out the final seconds to secure the conference title.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Katz's tally marked the first goal of her collegiate career.
• Cozza scored her 10th goal of the season and set a new career high with 27 points.
• Goalkeeper Lily Wierzbicki earned her 18th win of the year, setting a single-season program record for victories. She surpassed Ellyn Griggs, who won 17 games in 2009.
• In two meetings with Misericordia this season, Stevens allowed just six total shots and four on goal. 

UP NEXT
With the victory, the Ducks earned the MAC Freedom's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship. The selection show is scheduled for Sunday at 9 p.m. on NCAA.com.