Meghan Kearney	Krista Osborne

Box Score

WASHINGTON, DC—Turns out The University of Scranton field hockey team didn’t need any outside help today after all in locking up a Landmark Conference tournament bid.

The Royals entered today’s game needing either a win over 20th-ranked Catholic or a victory by Moravian against Goucher to land a spot in Wednesday’s semifinals.

They didn’t leave anything to chance, pulling out a 1-0 victory on a goal by sophomore midfielder Meghan Kearney (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O’Hara) in the 44th minute of the second half.  Kearney followed up a previous shot attempt that was saved by Catholic goalkeeper Megan Comunale and tapped it into the cage for her fifth goal of the season.

With the win, Scranton improves to 13-5 overall and finishes Landmark play with a 3-3 mark.  The Royals will take on top-seeded Drew University this Wednesday, November 6, in Madison, New Jersey, at a time to be determined.  Last Saturday, Drew defeated the Royals, 5-4, scoring the game-winning goal with less than three minutes remaining.

Catholic, now 11-5, suffered a heart-breaking loss despite holding a commanding 19-5 advantage in shots and a 20-3 margin in penalty corners.  Royal junior goalkeeper Krista Mundy (North Caldwell, NJ/West Essex) was the key to frustrating the Cardinals on the offensive end, making nine saves to pick up her fourth shutout of the season.

The Royals have now qualified for the Landmark tournament four times in the conference’s seven-year history, and will look to avenge 2-1 losses in overtime to Drew in the semifinals in each of the past two seasons.

--ROYALS--