Tom O'Connor	Gavin Coutts

Box score

Photo gallery (photos courtesy of Dan Ceccacci)

The University of Scranton men's soccer team struggled to find its offensive rhythm and it cost the Royals in a 2-0 defeat against Goucher on Saturday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.

The loss was the first in Landmark Conference play for Scranton (9-3-1, 3-1 Landmark) and snapped a five-game winning streak for the Royals. Midway through their conference schedule, the Royals are in a three-way tie for second with Elizabethtown and Merchant Marine with nine points each, one point behind Catholic. The Royals have played one less game than each of those three teams.

Scranton had an early chance on a header by senior midfielder Tom O'Connor (Great River, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) in the first minute, but the shot was saved, and the Royals had few opportunities the rest of the way.

Goucher (6-5, 2-2 Landmark) took the lead on a goal in the ninth minute by sophomore midfielder Tate Becker (San Diego, Calif./Scripps Ranch). The Gophers sealed when junior midfielder Luis Gomes (Bushkill, Pa./East Stroudsburg North) scored on a rebound in the 78th minute.

The Gophers held a 12-7 edge in shots and had two corner kicks to one for Scranton. Sophomore midfielder Gavin Coutts (Mendham, N.J./West Morris Mendham) led the Royals with two shots.

Scranton returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 15, when the Royals travel to Oneonta, N.Y. to face fifth-ranked Oneonta State at 4 p.m.

--ROYALS--