Box Score Box score
The University of Scranton men's soccer team needed a win on Saturday against Moravian to keep its playoff hopes alive. But the Royals suffered the most heart-breaking of losses, falling to the Greyhounds, 2-1, in double overtime.
The defeat knocks the Royals from Landmark Conference playoff contention. Scranton is currently in fifth place, but sits four points behind fourth with just one game remaining – Saturday, Oct. 30, at Elizabethtown at 4 p.m.
Scranton (4-5-5, 1-2-3 Landmark) took a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute on a goal by senior midfielder Bryce Schiltz (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora). Junior midfielder Brett Rudy (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) got free of a defender down the right side and sent a perfect cross to the far post to a streaking Schiltz, who converted for his second goal of the season. The assist was Rudy's second of the season.
But Moravian (6-8-3, 1-4-1 Landmark) immediately put pressure on the Scranton defense after the goal. The Royals nearly hung on, protecting that 1-0 lead into the 90th minute. But the Greyhounds found the equalizer with just 22.7 seconds left on the clock when Andrew Goodolf scored on an assist by Jake Crawford.
Both teams had excellent chances in the first overtime. First, Scranton sophomore midfielder Drew Greenblatt (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) beat a defender to a perfect through ball just inside the box in the 95th minute, but Moravian keeper Christian Beebe came off his line to save the shot. The rebound caromed straight to Royals sophomore midfielder Dylan Estevez (Garnerville, N.J./Don Bosco Prep), who appeared to have an open net from about 20 yards out. But Beebe scrambled up and dove to his left to save the shot.
Three minutes later, Royals senior keeper Jake Hodlofski (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep) stopped back-to-back shots from close range, including the second on a powerful shot from seven yards out.
Moravian put more pressure on late in the second overtime and finally won it when Goodolf collected a loose ball during a mad scramble in the box and scored from six yards out.
Moravian finished with a 19-10 advantage in shots, but Scranton held the 9-6 edge in corner kicks. Hodlofski made four saves for the Royals.
Prior to kickoff, Scranton honored its seniors for their contributions to the program over the past four years. Those honored were Hodlofski, Schiltz, defender Luke Backman (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), midfielder Andrew Luchansky (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), defender Jake Nubbemeyer (Warminster, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and defender Terrence Quin (Stony Point, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep).
--ROYALS--
