HOBOKEN, NJ – Host Stevens Institute of Technology opened the game on a 7-0 run and never looked back in an 18-5 victory over Hartwick's women's lacrosse team on Sunday at De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, NJ. The game marked the Empire 8 Conference opener for both squads.
           
Hartwick (1-3) was led by senior Emily Jweid (Marcy, NY/Whitesboro) who registered a goal and an assist. Junior Kia Ference (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady), sophomore Courtney Coons (Wilton, NY/South Glens Falls), and freshmen Ashley Werner (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) and Colleen Jones (Ardsley, NY/Hackley) also scored for the Hawks.
           
The Ducks jumped ahead early as they tallied 26 seconds into the contest for a 1-0 lead. The hosts would score six more times in a 7:32 span to open up a 7-0 edge before Jweid got the Hawks on the scoreboard with a goal off a feed from senior Lisa Littleton (Yorktown, NY/Yorktown) with 12:53 left in the half.
           
Stevens (4-1) added to its total at the 8:43 mark, but Ference scored for Hartwick to make the score 8-2. Coons earned the assist on the play. The Ducks closed out the first-half scoring with 1:13 left and they took a 9-2 lead into halftime.
           
Three minutes, 48 seconds into the second half, Coons found the net with junior Ally Naja (Glens Falls, NY/South Glens Falls) assisting to make it a 9-3 game. The Ducks, however, would register the next seven goals to surge ahead.
           
Back to back goals from Werner and Jones cut the deficit to 16-5, before two more Stevens' tallies produced the final margin.
           
Senior goalkeeper Steph Luce (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) made 14 saves in cage, and she also tied for a team-high with three ground balls. Littleton, Caroline Stanford (Skaneateles, NY/Skaneateles), and Melissa Gifford (Penacook, NH/Merrimack Valley) also had three ground balls. Stanford tied for a game-high with two caused turnovers.
           
The Ducks were led by Kathleen Kalbian's six goals. Erika Willcox added three goals and two assists. Goalkeepers Stephanie Schnelzer, Catie Shelton, and Angela Bauroth combined for six saves.

Both teams played today's game in remembrance of Seton Hill University women's lacrosse which suffered a tragic accident en route to a game on March 16, 2013. The crash claimed the lives of two people, including the team's head coach.  
           
Hartwick next plays on Friday, March 27 against Elmira. It marks the first home game of the season for the Hawks.