Box Score READING, Pa. – Senior Allie Benadon (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) scored the game-winner just over four minutes into double overtime and The University of Scranton field hockey team (8-0) remained unbeaten on the season with a 1-0 victory over the Albright Lions (3-4) on Tuesday night at Shirk Stadium in Reading.
In the 75th minute, Benadon collected the ball around midfield and dribbled into the circle and was able to beat Albright goalie Adele Thomas with a shot for her team-leading eighth goal of the season to keep the Royals unbeaten.
Scranton was receiving votes in the latest Penn Monto/NFHCA Division III Coaches Poll that was released on Tuesday afternoon.
This marks the first win for the Royals over Albright since 2017.
The two teams battled through a scoreless first quarter and Thomas turned away a shot from senior Shaelin de Wit (New Tripoli, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) in the fifth minute. Sophomore Katie Redding (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) nearly gave the Royals the lead just over a minute into the second quarter, but Thomas tallied a save to keep the game scoreless at the time. It was junior goalie Clare Maguire's (Oreland, Pa./Mount Saint Joseph Academy) time to shine just before halftime as the Oreland, Pa., native made consecutive saves on the Lions' Lamya Mejias and also denied Laurel Gingrich's attempt off a penalty corner in the 28th minute.
Both teams played very strong defensively in the third and fourth quarter as the two teams combined for just one shot from Albright's Jenna Crosby in the 51st minute. Though it was scoreless, both sides produced high quality chances in the first overtime period as Redding sent an attempt just wide in the 65th minute and the Lions had a shot of their own trickle wide of the cage a few minutes later. The Royals controlled the play for the first few minutes of double overtime to set the stage for Benadon's game-winner in the 75th minute.
Scranton held a slight 8-6 advantage in shots led by three shots apiece from Benadon and Redding, while Albright had four penalty corners to the Royals' three.
Maguire, the reigning Landmark Conference Defensive Athlete of the Week, continued her outstanding play with five saves to notch her fourth shutout of the season. The junior ranks second in all of Division III in both goals against average (0.18) and save percentage (.963).
As a unit, the Royals' defense including freshmen Lauren Franco (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Henderson) and Abbie Hoyle (Drexel Hill, Pa./Archbishop Prendergast) along with seniors Ashley Moore (Conshohocken, Pa./Mount Saint Joseph Academy) and Molly Sheehan (Haddonfield, N.J./Haddonfield Memorial) has allowed just one goal on the season.
Thomas recorded a pair of saves in the loss for Albright.
The Royals return home to host Juniata in a Landmark Conference battle on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field. Action will get underway at 1 p.m.
--ROYALS--
