Box Score ITHACA, N.Y. – Sophomore Patrick Walls Kelly (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) scored the lone goal of the game in the 64th minute and The University of Scranton men's soccer team (1-1) picked up a 1-0 win over No. 23 Ithaca (2-2) on Wednesday afternoon at Higgins Stadium in Ithaca.
Kelly headed home the eventual game-winner at the far post off a corner from junior Christian Arcos (Bayonne, N.J./Saint Peter's Prep).
This marks the Royals' first win over a Top 25 team since a 2-1 double overtime victory over No. 13 Cortland on Sept. 9, 2017.
It was also the first meeting between the Royals and the Bombers since the two teams played in four consecutive years from 2012-2015. Scranton now leads the all-time series by a 7-3-1 margin.
The two teams battled each other to a scoreless contest through the first 45 minutes. Freshman Sean Quin (Stony Point, N.Y./Albertus Magnus) sent a header just wide in the 13th minute and senior goalie Jake Hodlofski (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep) denied the Bombers' Conor Baird in the 19th minute as the Royals held a 4-1 shot advantage in the opening stanza.
Seconds before Kelly's goal in the 64th minute, Arcos delivered a corner kick into the box and a header from senior Jake Nubbemeyer (Warminster, Pa./Archbishop Wood) was deflected out of play by Ithaca keeper Josh Koenig to award Scranton another corner that led to the goal. The Bombers had perhaps their best chance of the night in the 75th minute as a shot from Aidan Keenan rang off the crossbar. In the final minute of play, Hodlofski denied a header from Chris Ogden to preserve the 1-0 win and register his sixth career shutout.
Head coach Matt Pivirotto's squad held an 8-4 shot advantage on the day led by two attempts apiece from Arcos and Nubbemeyer. Hodlofski and Koenig both had two saves apiece for their respective sides, while Ithaca held a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks with seven of the Bombers' corners coming in the second half.
The University of Scranton men's soccer team returns to action on Saturday evening as they hit the road to battle Kean. Start time at the Cougars' Alumni Stadium in Union, N.J. is slated for 6 p.m.
--ROYALS--
