Story Courtesy of Stevens Athletics

HOBOKEN, N.J. – The Stevens Institute of Technology field hockey team captured a fourth straight MAC Freedom Championship on Saturday with a dominant 4-0 win over DeSales.

How It Happened
Stevens (16-4) showed why it was the No. 1 seed in the tournament, establishing control early and carrying play throughout the opening quarter. After generating multiple penalty corners and testing goalkeeper Lily Trocki with several early opportunities, the Ducks finally broke through at the 10:42 mark. Jenna Piantieri found the back of the cage off a feed from Sophia Cozza, giving Stevens a 1-0 lead and rewarding a first quarter that featured six shots and three penalty corners. The No. 2 Bulldogs failed to register a shot in the opening 15 minutes as the Ducks dictated possession from the start.

The second quarter was more of the same, even if the score remained unchanged. Stevens unleashed 14 shots during the period and repeatedly pressured the Bulldog defense through sustained offensive-zone time. Julia Katz, Sophia Cozza, Taylor Brooks, Brooke Hughes and Lauren Flynn all generated scoring chances, but Trocki kept the visitors within striking distance with eight saves in the frame.

With the score still just 1-0 despite a 20-0 first-half shot advantage, Stevens put the game away with an explosive third quarter. Just 1:32 into the period, Katz doubled the lead, finishing off a sequence that began with several Ducks shots. Four minutes later, Cozza added another goal to make it 3-0, continuing her strong all-around performance. The Ducks struck again with 2:17 remaining in the quarter when Kylee Scherer converted a feed from Jess Kopernick, stretching the advantage to 4-0 heading to the fourth.

In the fourth, DeSales finally registered scoring opportunities, recording five shots, but Stevens goalkeeper Natalie Ward kept out the two on-target attempts to preserve the shutout and the four-peat.

Inside The Box Score

• Cozza earned Tournament Most Valuable Player honors, finishing the afternoon with a goal and an assist, bringing her career point total to 99
• Stevens shut out both their conference tournament semifinal and championship opponents for the second time in four years (2023)
• Piantieri scored her ninth goal of the season, Pelletier and Cozza each scored their eighth, Scherer scored her second
• Ward posted her eighth shutout of the year, tying Ellyn Griggs in 2009 for the most in a single season in program history

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.

#AllRise