Box Score

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - Four different players scored goals in the second half, while The University of Scranton women's soccer team's defensive unit pitched another shutout, as the Royals upended Juniata, 4-0, on Saturday in Landmark Conference action.

With the win, Scranton (who is receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Top 25) continues one of their best starts in program history at 9-0-0 and 2-0-0 in the Landmark Conference. Juniata fell to 4-3-3 and 0-1-1 in the Landmark with the defeat.

From the opening kick in the match, Scranton absolutely dominated play.

In the first half, the Royals fired at will on the Juniata defense, posting 11 total shots, nine of which were on goal. Juniata goalie Cati Besch, however, turned away each Royals chance in the first 45 minutes, as she made an astounding nine saves in the first half, alone, to keep Scranton scoreless into intermission.

But, it did not take Scranton long to break the scoreless tie in the second half.

4:40 in the second period, senior Grace Elliott (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) scored her fifth goal of the 2021 season off a pass from fellow senior Isabella DiBenedetto (Glen Cove, N.Y./North Shore) to give the Royals the 1-0 lead. For DiBenedetto, it was her first career assist, as well.

Once Scranton cracked the scoreboard with a goal, the flood gates opened on offense.

First, in the 56th minute, sophomore Niamh Healy (Orangeburg, N.Y./Tappan Zee) scored her fourth goal of the year off an assist from juniorNoelle Walker (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville). For Walker, it was her first career assist, also.

Next, in the 63rd minute, reigning Landmark Conference Offensive Athlete of the Week sophomore Mary Haggerty (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) scored the second goal of her season/career off a pass from senior Callie Deola (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South) to make it a 3-0 Scranton lead. Deola's assist was the second of her season and the fifth of her career.

The final tally of the afternoon came in the 76th minute when sophomore Gab Richetti (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) scored her first career goal off a cross from Haggerty. For Haggerty, it was the first assist of her career, as well.

With a big lead throughout the second half, the Scranton defense, led by senior Hope Drewes (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury), continued to dominate Juniata.

When the dust settled at the end of regulation, the Royals defense had not only accomplished their seventh shutout in nine games but also held Juniata without a shot or corner kick in the victory. In the end, Scranton outshot the Eagles by a staggering 27-0 margin, while holding a 7-0 edge on corner kicks.

The University of Scranton women's soccer team returns to action on Tuesday, as they take on Farmingdale State in non-conference action at Weiss Field. Things get underway at 7 PM.

--ROYALS--