Gretchen Kempf	Corinne O'Kane
Krista Mundy	Jessica Pankey

Box Score

Photo Gallery (courtesy of Dan Ceccacci)

Senior forward Gretchen Kempf (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) made sure Senior Day for herself and senior midfielder Corinne O'Kane (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) was an afternoon they'll never forget.

Kempf scored on a penalty stroke 10 minutes into overtime to lift The University of Scranton field hockey team to a 1-0 victory over nationally-ranked Catholic University on Saturday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field. Her goal capped an intense game that was filled with action throughout the second half and overtime.

More importantly, the goal puts Scranton in position to earn the top seed in the upcoming Landmark Conference playoffs. The Royals will be the top seed with a win next Saturday at Juniata and a Catholic victory over Drew University that same day.

Scranton improves to 10-5 and 4-1 in Landmark Conference play while Catholic, ranked 19th in the nation in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association poll, fell to 9-6 overall and 4-1 in the conference.

Kempf put herself in position for the game-winner when she took the ball at midfield with only one Catholic defender between her and the goalie. She beat that defender 25 yards out and then pushed the ball past the Catholic goalie, who dived to stop the play but tripped up Kempf, leading to the penalty stroke. Kempf calmly slipped the shot into the left corner, setting off a joyous celebration for the Royals.

It was the 13th goal and second game-winning goal of the season for Kempf. She now has 39 career goals, fourth-most in school history, and 93 career points, also fourth-most in school history. She also has nine career game-winning goals. As a team, Scranton has 47 goals on the season, tied for fourth-most in a single season in school history.

The Royals had to withstand a flurry of penalty corners and shots by Catholic late in the second period, including a penalty stroke that clanked off the right post and kept the game scoreless with just over seven minutes remaining in regulation. Royals sophomore goalie Krista Mundy (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex), who finished with five saves, made one sprawling save in the second period and stopped two more shots in overtime. Mundy picked up her fifth win and second solo shutout of the season.

Scranton had a chance to win earlier in overtime, but Catholic junior goalie Megan Comunale (Hammonton, N.J./Bishop Eustace) made a diving save on a penalty stroke by Scranton freshman defender Jessica Pankey (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes), whose strong game on defense helped Scranton hold Catholic off the scoreboard.

The victory is Scranton's first in seven tries against Catholic all-time, with all seven matchups coming since the schools began play in the Landmark Conference in 2007.

O'Kane also had a strong Senior Day performance in the midfield, helping Scranton control the action early on and finish with 15 shots, one less than the Cardinals.

The Royals will play their final regular season home game on Tuesday, Oct. 27, when they host Vassar at 7 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field.

--ROYALS--