SCRANTON, Pa. – Senior Bridget Abraldes (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) notched a hat trick and The University of Scranton field hockey team (7-1, 2-0 Landmark) rolled past the Elizabethtown Blue Jays (4-3, 1-1) in Landmark Conference action on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field in Scranton.

The Royals immediately threatened in the early going when sophomore Annie Shaw (Exton, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) had her shot turned away by Elizabethtown goalie Rachel Murphy in the third minute. Head coach Colleen Moyer's team was able to take the lead in the 13^th minute when senior Katie Redding (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) fed a pass to Abraldes in the circle and the Holbrook, N.Y., native buried the chance for her first goal of the day. In the early stages of the second quarter, Scranton had several quality scoring chances and the duo of Abraldes and Redding connected again in the 24^th minute and the former registered her second goal of the day that the hosts carried into the locker room.

Abraldes completed the hat trick just over a minute into the third quarter as she collected a ball in the circle after a feed from Shaw that extended the lead to 3-0. Later in the quarter, the Blue Jays cut the lead to 3-1 as Megen Meyer blasted a shot from the top of the circle after a penalty corner in the 43^rd minute. The Royals continued to control the game in the fourth quarter and senior Cori Davis (Millerstown, Pa./Greenwood) added a goal in the 58^th minute as she tipped home a shot at the near post following a penalty corner to make it a 4-1 game.

Scranton held a dominant 21-4 shot advantage in the contest led by seven apiece from Abraldes and Shaw. Junior goalie Gianna Travia (Havertown, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) made one save in the victory, while Rachel Murphy recorded nine saves for the Blue Jays.

The University of Scranton field hockey team is back in action on Wednesday night at Ithaca with action slated to get underway at 7 p.m.

--ROYALS--