Stevens Comes From Behind to Defeat Montclair, 3-2

Stevens battled back from an early deficit to earn a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Montclair, overcoming a 2-1 halftime deficit with a strong second-half performance.

Montclair came out aggressively to begin the match, applying pressure early and finding the opening goal within the first 10 minutes. A shot from inside the box gave Montclair an early 1-0 advantage. Stevens quickly responded, however, as Jasmine Campagna '29 found Sophia Opryshko '30 with a pass that allowed Opryshko to take on the Montclair defense. After dribbling past several defenders, Opryshko fired a shot from the top of the box and found the back of the net to level the score at 1-1.

Montclair continued to control much of the possession throughout the remainder of the first half, putting pressure on the Stevens defense and creating several opportunities. With approximately five minutes remaining before halftime, Montclair regained the lead after a through ball found space behind the Stevens defense, resulting in a goal that sent Montclair into the break with a 2-1 advantage.

Stevens came out with renewed energy in the second half, shifting the momentum of the match and spending much of the half maintaining possession in Montclair's defensive end. The increased pressure eventually paid off when Stevens earned a free kick just outside the box. Isabella Irwin '27 stepped up and delivered a perfectly placed strike directly from the free kick, beating the Montclair goalkeeper and bringing the match level at 2-2.

With momentum firmly on their side, Stevens continued to push forward and create opportunities in the attacking third. With approximately 10 minutes remaining in the match, Kiera Reilly '30 delivered a cross into the box that found Sara Patino '29. Patino played the ball to Sophia Opryshko '30, who finished the opportunity for her second goal of the game and gave Stevens its first lead of the afternoon, 3-2.

Montclair responded by pushing numbers forward in search of an equalizer during the final minutes, but the Stevens defense held strong and prevented Montclair from finding the back of the net. After overcoming an early deficit and entering halftime down by a goal, Stevens' second-half comeback secured a 3-2 victory.

The win highlighted Stevens' ability to respond to adversity, maintain composure, and build momentum throughout the match. Opryshko's two-goal performance, combined with Irwin's set-piece goal, powered the Stevens attack, while a strong defensive effort in the closing minutes preserved the victory.