Stevens Institute of Technology won their first ever Empire 8 Conference Championship on Saturday over visiting Ithaca 10-7. The Stevens Ducks entered the E8 playoffs as the number one seed and hosted the championship game in Hoboken, NJ. The Ducks now head to the NCAA Division 3 tournament with 16-2 record, and will face Sprinfield in the first round.
If the Ducks win there, they would head up to the #1 seed in the North, and play at Cortland, which is a tough road to be sure. But if you want to be the best, you have to best the best, and Stevens now has that opportunity. Springfield will be a good test, and I think the game could be tight early on. But as the second half wears on, I expect Stevens to pull away as their defense tightens up.
Thanks to GBHog for the photos of the game and for sending in quality college lacrosse shots all season long! If you want to see YOUR local team covered, all you have to do is send us some photos and a little bit of your own opinion. How hard is THAT?
See more game photos below, and a little bit of commentary from the one and only GBHog:
Marks was a force of nature for Stevens – 4 CT’s, 6 GB’s and a strong leader of the Stevens D. I don’t see how this guy is not an All American.
The Bombers were patient, working their transisition game and the 1-4-1 to go east/west and get inside the SIT zone. They just needed more shots, something Stevens wouldn’t give them.
Deiner came up big, when he had to come up big.
Dupras fought through tight coverage all day to lead Stevens offense.
Congrats to the Ducks on their first Empire 8 Championship, and good luck in the playoffs!