Box Score SCRANTON, Pa. – Sophomore Mary Haggerty (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) scored the eventual game-winner in the 63rd minute and The University of Scranton women's soccer team remained unbeaten with a 2-1 victory over the Susquehanna River Hawks (3-4, 0-1 Landmark) in the conference opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field in Scranton.
The Royals improve to 7-0 with the victory and continue their historic start, as this is the first time in program history that they have started a season with seven straight victories.
Scranton was receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division III Top 25 poll.
Susquehanna opened the scoring in the 23rd minute as Anna Werner took a feed from teammate Emily Wertz and sent a shot to the far post to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Just over 10 minutes later, the Royals tied the game as senior Jessica Letherbarrow (Westtown, N.Y./John S. Burke Catholic) made a nifty move in the box and scored her second goal of the season to tie things at one apiece. Letherbarrow had another opportunity in the 42nd minute, but was denied by River Hawks' goalie Chloe Wieczkowski.
Both teams had a couple of chances in the early stages of the second half and Wieczkowski made a pair of saves for Susquehanna before Haggerty struck in the 63rd minute with her afore-mentioned game winner. The sophomore collected a pass in front of the net from freshman Emily Bannon (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) and beat Wieczkowski to give the Royals the 2-1 lead. Senior goalie Amanda Steinberg (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) and the Royals' defense held strong in the final 25 minutes to preserve the victory including a key save from Steinberg on a shot from Werner in the 85th minute.
Haggerty's goal was the first of her career at The University.
Scranton held a 12-8 advantage in shots led by two attempts apiece from four different players, while Steinberg made three saves in net to record the victory. Wieczkowski tallied three saves in the losing effort for the River Hawks.
The University of Scranton women's soccer team looks to remain unbeaten on Wednesday night when they travel to Misericordia for a 7 p.m. matchup. The Cougars were ranked No. 12 in the latest USC Division III Top 25 and are 8-0 on the season.
--ROYALS--
