Krista Osborne	Maria Begliomeni
Alyssa Whitman	Cassie Mullen

Box Score
Photo Gallery (courtesy of Dan Ceccacci)

SCRANTON, Pa.—The University of Scranton field hockey team is now one win away from its best start in school history.

Behind two goals from sophomore forward Krista Osborne (Blue Bell, Pa./Gwynedd-Mercy), the Royals wore down Keystone College, 3-0, for their sixth straight win and tie the record for the best start in school history previously held by the 1998 team.

Scranton also received a goal from sophomore forward Alyssa Whitman (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) and junior goalkeeper Maria Begliomini (Shickshinny, Pa./Northwest Area) made two saves to earn her second shutout of the season and the fourth of her career.

The Royals were relentless on offense and downright stingy on defense.  Scranton out-shot the Giants, 31-5, held a commanding 20-9 advantage in penalty corners, and its backline of juniors Bridget Brady (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Mt. St. Joseph Academy) and Michelle Lennon (South Walpole, Mass./Walpole) and sophomore Jessica Pankey (Pompton Lakes, NJ/Pompton Lakes) allowed only two shots on goal.

Osborne got the Royals on the scoreboard in the 17th minute by out-fighting a Giant defender and scoring a goal on a ball crossed from the right sideline.

Scranton’s pressure finally got to the Giants early the second half. 

Whitman scored her first goal of the season on a picture-perfect pass from the left side from junior forward Cassie Mullen (Chester Springs, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) in the 44th minute.  Less than a minute later, Osborne found herself in a one-on-one situation with Keystone sophomore goalkeeper Nichole Blank (Schwenksville, Pa./Boyertown) and knocked past her for her team-leading sixth goal of the season.

Blank did an admirable job in goal for Keystone, finishing with nine saves.  The loss drops the Giants to 0-5.

The Royals will get an opportunity to set a new mark for the best start in school history this Saturday, September 21, against the Knights of Arcadia University at Fitzpatrick Field beginning at 1:00 p.m.

News & Notes:  Osborne has scored four of her team-leading six goals in her last two games…Royals now lead the all-time series with Keystone, 5-1, since the Giants began playing on the four-year level and overall its 9-6-3 in Scranton’s favor…Mullen’s assist was her second of the season.

--ROYALS--