Box Score SCRANTON, Pa. – Senior Bryce Schiltz (East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora) scored the lone goal of the match in the 79th minute and The University of Scranton men's soccer team (3-1-1) notched a fourth straight shutout with a 1-0 victory over the Arcadia Knights (2-6) on Wednesday night at Weiss Field in Scranton.
The Royals have not allowed a goal since the season opener on Sept. 4 versus Muhlenberg, a stretch that totals 428:41 of play.
Schiltz collected the ball about 30 yards out and blasted a shot into the top half of the net past Arcadia keeper Matthew Goldberg to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at the time. The goal for Schiltz was his first of the season and fourth of his Royals career.
The two teams battled to a scoreless draw through the opening 45 minutes, but each team was able to string together a couple of quality chances. Perhaps the best chance of the half for either team came in the 15th minute as Scranton senior Andrew Luchansky (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) curled a shot just wide of the net off a pass from junior Brett Rudy (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area). In the 40th minute, Royals keeper Jake Hodlofski (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep) denied a shot from the Knights' Matt Berndlmaier on a free kick to keep the game even at the break.
In the second half, the Royals registered the first corner kick of the game for either side in the 67th minute and a few minutes later, a header from junior Brendan King (Hempfield, Pa./Manheim) went just wide of the target. Arcadia had a chance in the 74th minute, but Hodlofski turned away an attempt from Duncan O'Connor to set the stage for Schiltz's eventual game winner in the 79th minute. Hodlofski and the Royals' defense stood tall in the final 10 plus minutes to preserve the shutout including a save in the 84th minute on a shot from just outside the box by the Knights' Thomas Hoy.
Hodlofski made five saves on the night en route to the 11th shutout of his outstanding career at The University, while Goldberg tallied a pair of saves for the Knights.
The Royals held a 12-9 shot advantage paced by five attempts from junior Christian Arcos (Bayonne, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep).
The University of Scranton men's soccer team opens Landmark Conference play by hosting Susquehanna on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field with start time slated for 4 p.m.
--ROYALS--
