SCRANTON, Pa. – Junior Ciaran Corr (Newtown Square, Pa./Marple Newtown) scored the lone goal of the match on a penalty kick in the 61st minute and The University of Scranton men's soccer team (6-1-1) blanked the Keystone Giants (0-7-2) 1-0 in a non-conference contest on Tuesday night at Weiss Field in Scranton.
Corr stepped to the penalty spot after freshman Drew Paxson (Elkins Park, Pa./Abington) was dragged down from behind in the box on a free kick and buried his second goal of the season for a 1-0 lead at the time.
Both teams had a shot turned away in the first six minutes of the game and then much of the remainder of the first half proved to be a defensive stalemate as things remained scoreless at the break. In the 37th minute, freshman Rob Patrissi (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) had his shot denied by Keystone goalie Dominic Weber in perhaps the best chance of the first half for Scranton.
In the early stages of the second half, sophomore Charlie Smith (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) denied a shot by Keystone's Trevor Lagarde and the Royals then began to mount some offensive chances which eventually led to Corr's penalty kick goal. Corr's shot deflected off the crossbar in the 60th minute and then he converted the afore-mentioned PK attempt just over a minute later. Paxson had a header opportunity saved by Weber in the 75th minute and the Keystone goalie added another save on a chance in close by junior Adam Havens (Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township) in the 82nd minute, but the Royals held strong defensively as the Giants had a free kick attempt sail high and wide of the frame in the 84th minute and Smith made a save in the 87th minute to preserve the shutout.
Head coach Matt Pivirotto's team held a 20-4 shot advantage in the contest led by four from Corr.
Smith tallied four saves to notch his fourth clean sheet of the year, while Weber registered seven saves for Keystone.
The Royals will host rival Catholic in a key Landmark Conference clash on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field with action slated to get underway at 1 p.m.
--ROYALS--
