HOBOKEN, NJ—Zisi Komar added two goals to her conference-leading season total of 17 as the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks defeated the Houghton College Highlanders in the Empire 8 conference tournament women's soccer semifinal.
The loss eliminates the Highlanders from the tournament, dropping the team to an overall record of 10-6-2, 4-3-2 in the Empire 8, while the Ducks (15-3-1, 8-0-1 Empire 8) advance to the conference championship game to face Ithaca College, who defeated Nazareth College by a score of 2-1 earlier in the day.
Komar opened the scoring early for the Ducks, scoring only 2:26 into the opening frame with a hard shot from outside the box.
Less than 20 minutes later Komar struck again for her second goal of the day, dribbling past defenders into the box and finishing past the keeper.
The Ducks continued the onslaught, tallying a third time before the halftime buzzer. Empire 8 points' leader Raba Nassif played a corner into the box and Sammy Mount headed it home.
Houghton's defense buckled down in the second half, allowing only six shots from the Ducks, but while the Highlanders strung passes together the scoring opportunities were few.
The best chances for the Highlanders came off the foot of
Sarah Gabriele (Mahwah, NJ, Eastern Christian), who tried multiple times from varied distances to play shots over the keeper's head, coming within inches of scoring.
In the 85
th minute, with the Highlanders scrambling to score a goal, the Ducks added a final score. Laura Malacane and Delaney West picked up the assists as a corner deflected to Misha Brewster for the finish.
In goal for the Highlanders,
Shawna Sprout (Portville, NY, Portville Central) collected five saves in the first half and
Elizabeth Groff (Jasper, NY, Jasper-Troupsburg) made two in the second half.
The Ducks maintained advantages in nearly every statistical category, including shots (22-10), shots on goal (11-4), corners (7-0) and fouls (12-4).
The Highlanders were ranked #10 in the latest NCCAA women's soccer poll and could still advance to play at a site and time still to be determined.
