BOXSCORE

ITHACA, N.Y. —Senior Caitlin O'Brien scored and junior Katie Lass made five saves, but the Ithaca College field hockey team fell to Stevens 4-1 Saturday in the Empire 8 championship at Higgins Stadium.

Appearing in the program's first Empire 8 championship, the top-seeded Bombers (13-5) blanked the third-seeded Ducks (13-7) for the first 19 minutes behind a defense that entered the tournament ranked in the top five nationally allowing 0.67 goals per game.

Stevens broke through for its first goal when Cassidy O'Hearn shot and scored from 14 yards out in the 20^th minute.

Ithaca, which dominated possession for much of the opening half, responded with the tying goal in the 24^th minute.

O'Brien blasted a shot from 12 yards out that sailed into the far corner of the goal as Ithaca pulled even in the championship.

Stevens nearly had a second goal in the 30^th minute when Dailyn Brook was awarded a penalty shot, but her effort sailed wide left of the cage.

The Ducks kept applying pressure and had a good look on goal late in the first half, but Lass reached up and deflected Victoria Alvarez's shot wide of the cage with six seconds remaining as the contest remained tied heading into the second half.

Brook, who was named Tournament MVP, scored twice and assisted on another Ducks' goal as Stevens recorded three goals in a span of 22 minutes to claim the program's fourth conference championship.

Despite the loss, Ithaca still enjoyed its winningest season since the 1997 squad posted a 14-8 record.

O'Brien and juniors Cassie Schuttrumpf and Hannah Gerber were named to the all-tournament team.