HOBOKEN, N.J. – Senior Niamh Healy (Orangeburg, N.Y./Tappan Zee) scored the game-tying goal in the 63rd minute and junior goalie Nicole Olson (Stoughton, Mass./Ursuline Academy) made six saves in the second half as The University of Scranton women's soccer team (2-2-2) battled Stevens (0-3-2) to a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon at DeBaun Athletic Complex in Hoboken.
This marked the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs with all four previous meetings having been a draw or decided by one goal.
Scranton threatened in the early going and Healy's shot was turned away by Dana Perry in the 19th minute as things remained scoreless for the time being. Perry made another save in the 33rd minute and Stevens was able to grab a 1-0 edge in the 37th minute when Elaine Kooiker headed home a throw in into the box by Claire Ganley. The score remained 1-0 at the half.
In the second half, the Royals searched for an equalizer and after a couple of chances, found it in the 63rd minute when junior Emily Bannon (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) sent a pass to senior Kaylee Murphy (Lafayette Hill, Pa./William Penn Charter) who one-touched it into the box and Healy struck with a shot that bounced off the far post and into the net for her team-leading fifth goal of the season. Stevens nearly regained the lead in the 73rd minute when a shot just glanced over the crossbar and then Olson denied Rachel Rouse from point blank range. The Stoughton, Mass., native added three more saves over the final 15 plus minutes including a second save on Rouse in the 81st minute as things remained deadlocked at one.
The Ducks held a slight 13-12 edge in shots and Healy led the Royals with nine including five on target.
Olson registered six saves for Scranton, while Perry added four for Stevens.
The Royals return home to host SUNY New Paltz in a non-conference match on Wednesday evening at Weiss Field with action set to begin at 7 p.m.
--ROYALS--
