Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The University of Scranton women's soccer team was seeking its fifth Landmark Conference title on Saturday, but had its hands full with a one-loss Catholic squad that had defeated the Royals in overtime in the regular season.
On the same field that Scranton lost, 2-1, just three weeks earlier, the Royals suffered a 1-0 loss in the Landmark Conference championship on Saturday. It was Scranton's fifth straight appearance in the title match and the sixth in the conference's eight-year existence.
Much like the first matchup, this one came down to a few key plays, and Catholic (15-1-3) made the biggest play that mattered, scoring the game's only goal in the 22nd minute. Sophomore midfielder Alexis Garcia (Miami Beach, Fla./Miami Beach Senior) pounced on a ball that had deflected on the post and easily tapped it in to give the Cardinals a quick lead.
Scranton (10-8-2) had a chance to equalize three minutes later when the Cardinals were called for a foul in the penalty box, giving the Royals a penalty kick. But the shot was off the mark and Catholic made its 1-0 lead stand up the rest of the way despite strong pressure by the Royals in the second half.
Catholic held a 16-9 edge in shots, but just 10-7 in shots on goal. Scranton sophomore goalkeeper Krissy Welsh (Swarthmore, Pa./Strath Haven) made nine saves, one shy of her season high, in the loss. Sophomore midfielder Kelsey Bacon (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) led the Royals with three shots.
Scranton had three corner kicks to six for Catholic, and both teams were handed one yellow card.
The loss likely ends the Royals' season, their sixth in the last seven with at least 10 victories. It also likely snaps a four-year string of NCAA Tournament appearances. Catholic earned the Landmark Conference's automatic bid by winning the title.
--ROYALS--
