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HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Host Stevens used a 4-3 advantage in a second penalty stroke session Saturday to prevail over Nazareth in Empire 8 Conference field hockey action, 2-1.

The disappointing loss -- Nazareth's second penalty stroke setback this season -- drops the Golden Flyers to 4-9 overall and 2-3 in conference games. Stevens is 8-8 overall and 5-1 in the Empire 8. The victory clinched the top seed for the Ducks for next month's E8 Tournament.

The teams were tied 1-1 after 100 minutes, including a pair of 15-minute overtime periods, to set the stage for penalty strokes. Each team scored three times in the first best-of-five penalty stroke session, setting up a second best-of-five session. This time the Ducks prevailed 4-3 with Stevens' Mary Nikish beating Nazareth's Kelsey Evans for the winning stroke.

Stevens had a 22-5 advantage in shots during regulation play and the Ducks took a 1-0 lead in the first half as Lauren Griggs scored off an assist from Caitlin Chamberlain in the 18th minute.

Nazareth tied the score in the second half as sophomore Lindsey Smith scored her third goal of the season on a play that originated from a penalty corner by Emily Conway.

The score remained unchanged through the remainder of regulation and then 30 minutes of overtime.

In the first penalty stroke session, Julie Davis, Smith and Nina Fargnoli scored for Nazareth with Jillian Price, Griggs and Nikish countering for the Ducks.

In the second session, Nazareth fell behind 3-1 when Mallory Swanson, Price and Melanie Richards scored on Stevens' first three attempts, while Davis scored for Nazareth. Conway and Fargnoli each scored for Nazareth to make it 3-3 with Evans saving an attempt by Griggs in between. That set the stage for Nikish's game-winning score which came on a shot to the right corner.

Nazareth plays again Wednesday at home against Oswego in a non-conference game at 4:30 p.m.