Box Score

DALLAS - In a match that featured two unbeaten and untied squads, junior Teresa Hegarty (Bryn Mawr, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) scored the game-winner early in the second half, as The University of Scranton women's soccer team upended sixth-ranked Misericordia, 1-0, on Wednesday night.

With the win, an outstanding run to begin the season continues for the Royals, who are receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Coaches (USC) NCAA Division III Top 25 poll. Scranton is now 8-0-0 overall on the year, marking the first time in program history the Royals have started the season with eight straight victories.

Misericordia, meanwhile, dropped 8-1-0 with the tough defeat.

In the opening frame of the contest, both teams had chances to score goals, only to be turned away by outstanding defense on both ends. For Scranton, senior goalie Amanda Steinberg (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North) stopped two shots in the first 45 minutes of action, while on the other end, Misericordia's Alexis Benedetto kept Scranton off the scoreboard with three saves in the first half.

But, Scranton didn't take long out of intermission to break the scoreless tie.

In the 49th minute (and after Steinberg made a save on Misericordia's first shot of the second half), Hegarty got a shot past Benedetto and into the back of the net to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. The goal was the second of the season for the junior, while it turned out to be the third game-winner of her career at Scranton.

With a one-goal lead, it was now up to the Scranton defense to hold on over the final 30 minutes of regulation to preserve the win. And, as they have all year, the Royals were up to the challenge.

In the final 30 minutes, the Cougars fired nine shots, three of which were on goal. All three were stopped by Steinberg, who clinched the shutout win with her sixth and final save of the night with 39 seconds left in regulation.

From there, Scranton hung on over the final moments of the match to notch their sixth shutout win of the season and their third victory in a row over Misericordia overall.

In the match, Misericordia held an edge on shots (19-11) and corner kick (10-2), which was to no avail against the powerful Royals defense. In net, Steinberg put together her best game of the season with six stops, as the solo shutout victory was her fourth of the 2021 season.

The University of Scranton women's soccer team returns to action on Saturday, as they dive back into Landmark Conference play at Juniata. Action begins at 1 p.m.

--ROYALS--