Box Score Box score
Senior midfielder Grace Elliott (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) scored twice in less than three minutes early in the second half to lead the 19th-ranked University of Scranton women's soccer team to a 4-0 victory over Moravian on Senior Day at Weiss Field on Saturday.
Junior midfielder Teresa Hegarty (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) and sophomore midfielder Emily Tantala (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) added goals as Scranton improved to 14-0-0 overall and 6-0-0 in Landmark Conference play. The Royals clinched the top seed in the upcoming Landmark playoffs with the win and extended their winning streak, the longest to start the season in program history.
Tantala opened the scoring in the 26th minute with an unassisted goal, her fourth of the season. The Royals held that 1-0 lead at halftime, but Elliott wasted little time putting her team in control after the break. She scored 58 seconds into the second half when she outworked two defenders to score off a pass from sophomore forward Niamh Healy (Orangeburg, N.Y./Tappan Zee).
Less than three minutes later, Elliott scored her second of the game and team-leading ninth of the season. Senior midfielder Steph Lowrey (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) sent in a cross from the left and Healy got a head on it to flick it to a wide-open Elliott, who put it in the back of the net from five yards out.
Hegarty finished the scoring in the 54th minute when she poked home the rebound of a shot by senior defender Hope Drewes (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) that was stopped by a Moravian defender.
Healy's two assists gave her five on the season while Drewes picked up her third and Lowrey earned her second.
Scranton finished with a 16-1 edge in shots over Moravian, which fell to 6-4-2 overall and 3-3-0 in Landmark play. Senior goalkeeper Amanda Steinberg (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) earned the win by making one save in 59 minutes in goal.
The shutout was the seventh straight and 12th of the season for the Royals. They extended their shutout streak to 697 minutes.
Prior to kickoff, Scranton honored its nine seniors for their contributions to the program over the past four years. Those honored were Drewes, Elliott, Lowrey, Steinberg, midfielder Callie Deola (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South), defender Isabella DiBenedetto (Glen Cove, N.Y./North Shore), defender Lauren Holden (Nutley, N.J./Nutley) and midfielder Erin Stagg (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo).
The Royals will be back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 28, when they host Penn State-Berks in a non-conference match. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
--ROYALS--
