Barden Named Empire 8 Rookie of The Year As Six Stevens Student-Athletes Earn All-Conference Honors
Barden made an immediate impact in her first full season on the Hudson, tallying 14 points on five goals and four assists. The Redondo Beach, Calif. native, who notched three goals and a pair of helpers against conference opponents, netted her first two collegiate markers in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Montclair State University on September 8. The rookie would also record of pair of goals in a 5-0 win over Empire 8 rival Alfred University, while also scoring in a 4-0 victory over league foe Utica College.
Coming off a spectacular rookie season, Schuckers was equally impressive in 2010, leading the team in points with 21 on seven goals and seven assists. The standout junior wasted no time getting on the board, notching a goal and an assist in each of the Ducks' first two contests.
Schuckers dished out a season-best two assists against Albright College on September 5, while recording goals against Kean University, Drew University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Utica College and Hartwick College. The Lincoln Park, N.J. native, who now has 16 goals and 10 assists in two years at Castle Point, notched three markers and three helpers in eight matches with conference opponents this season.
Also earning all-league honors were sophomore back Paige Allen (Manalapan, N.J.), junior midfielder Sarah Lehman (Gilbert, Ariz.), and senior forward Mary Chew (West Deptford, N.J.) – who all took home second-team All-Empire 8 honors – and junior goalkeeper Kaitlin McClymont (Corpus Christi, Texas), an honorable mention awardee.
Chew had a breakout season in her final year in Cardinal and Gray, notching a career-best seven goals. The West Deptford, N.J. native scored in matches against Ithaca College, RIT, and Utica, before recording the Ducks' first hat-trick since the 2006 campaign in a 4-1 triumph over Ramapo College. Chew finished the regular season with four markers against Empire 8 opponents.
Lehman currently ranks second on the team in points (15) on five goals and five assists. A native of Gilbert, Ariz, she opened the season with a pair of scores against New York University, while also tallying goals against Albright, Drew, and RIT. A staple of the Ducks' backline since arriving at Castle Point last year, Allen helped a stingy Stevens defense post eight shutouts on the season, holding opponents to one goal or less in 10 contests.
Appearing in 16 matches this season; McClymont enjoyed a career year in net, posting a 12-3-1 record with a 0.75 goals-against average and five shutouts. After allowing a pair of goals in a 2-1 overtime loss to then No. 16 Ithaca College, the Corpus Christi, Texas native did not allow a ball into the Ducks' next in four consecutive matches – culminating in a 0-0 double-overtime draw with then-No. 2 The College of New Jersey in which she posted a season-high 14 saves.
Rounding out the list of Stevens' honorees was sophomore midfielder Tara Callahan (Harrrisburg, Pa.) who was chosen to represent the Ducks on the 2010 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Sportswoman of the Year team. The Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.
As a team, Stevens currently ranks second in the Empire 8 in points (18), goals (43), assists (35), goals against (16), goals-against average (0.85), and shutouts (8), as six Ducks netted at least five goals. Stevens, the third-seed at the upcoming Empire 8 Tournament in Rochester, N.Y., squares off with Ithaca in a semifinal match slated for Saturday, November 6.
