SCRANTON, Pa. – Senior Patrick Walls Kelly (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) scored the lone goal of the game in the 51st minute and The University of Scranton men's soccer team (8-2-4, 2-2-3 Landmark) notched a crucial 1-0 win over the Drew Rangers (8-5-2, 4-3 Landmark) in a Landmark Conference showdown on Tuesday night at Weiss Field in Scranton.
With the victory, the Royals move into a playoff spot in the Landmark as the top six teams will qualify for the conference tournament that gets underway on Oct. 31.
Kelly headed home the eventual game-winner off a corner kick by freshman Alex Kozdron (Bloomingdale, N.J./Pequannock Twp.) and the Royals held on over the final 35 plus minutes for the 1-0 victory.
Scranton had a chance in the early stages as a shot from junior Ciaran Corr (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) sailed just high of the target in the fifth minute and sophomore goalie Charlie Smith (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) turned away a shot by Drew's Timo Puentes in the seventh minute as things were scoreless. In the 32nd minute, Smith made another save on a shot by Kevin Kiernan and then a Rangers' attempt in the 37th minute deflected off the crossbar. Smith then once again denied Kiernan in the 41st minute and the game remained scoreless at the half.
Kelly's goal was his first of the season and third of his career.
In the second half, Scranton's back line helped to preserve the shutout and Smith added two key saves in the final 10 minutes including a shot by Drew's Andrew Dunne in the 85th minute that he deflected out of play.
Drew held a 14-4 shot advantage in the contest and Smith's six saves marked his second-highest total of the season. The shutout was also Smith's sixth of the season, which is tied for second in the conference.
The Royals will host Susquehanna in a Landmark matchup on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field with action slated to get underway at 1 p.m.
--ROYALS--
