Box Score Postgame Press Conference
SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton women's soccer team (18-1-1) battled hard until the bitter end, but saw one of the best seasons in program history come to a close with a 3-1 loss to the TCNJ Lions (19-0-2) in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 action on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field in Scranton.
Things were deadlocked at one apiece with just under 20 minutes to play, but the Lions proceeded to score two goals in the next 2:44 to take control of the game and make it 3-1. Lindsay O'Keefe managed to get behind the defense and gave TCNJ the lead in the 73rd minute before Gianna Coppola added a goal of her own in the 75th minute.
TCNJ advances to take on William Smith in tomorrow's Elite 8 matchup at Weiss Field.
Entering play on Saturday, the four teams competing this weekend in Scranton had just two losses combined between them and TCNJ was ranked No. 1 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Top 25 that was released prior to the NCAA Tournament.
The Royals wrap up the campaign with an 18-1-1 record as they captured a second straight Landmark Conference championship and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003 with victories over Nazareth and SUNY Geneseo in the first two rounds of the tournament.
In the first half, Scranton was able to mount some early pressure and sophomore Niamh Healy (Orangeburg, N.Y./Tappan Zee) had a shot turned away in the second minute of the match. Healy struck in the 19th minute as she made a nifty move in the box and beat Lions keeper Alexandra Panasuk with a shot to the top left corner for her 10th goal of the season and a 1-0 Royals lead. However, TCNJ was able to quickly respond and Nikki Butler evened things at one with a goal in the 23rd minute. Things would remain tied at for the remainder of the half, though the Lions did have a shot ring off the crossbar in the 36th minute.
Senior goalie Amanda Steinberg (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) registered a pair of saves in the 69th and 72nd minutes that kept things tied before the afore-mentioned go-ahead goal from O'Keefe. The Royals nearly tied the game at two in the 73rd minute, but a shot from junior Teresa Hegarty (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) was turned away by Panasuk and Coppola was able to net the insurance goal a minute later.
Scranton tallied five shots in the contest led by three from Healy.
Steinberg registered four saves on the day for the hosts, while Panasuk tallied three for TCNJ.
The Royals' 2021 roster featured nine seniors: Steinberg, Callie Deola (Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South), Isabella DiBenedetto (Glen Cove, N.Y./North Shore), Hope Drewes (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury), Grace Elliott (Westfield, N.J./Westfield), Lauren Holden (Nutley, N.J./Nutley), Jessica Letherbarrow (Westtown, N.Y./John S. Burke Catholic), Steph Lowrey (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) and Erin Stagg (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo). This senior class helped lead the program to 45 wins, three NCAA Tournament victories and two Landmark Conference titles.
--ROYALS--
