SCRANTON, Pa. – Three second half goals proved to be the difference in the game and The University of Scranton women's soccer team (5-2-3, 2-0 Landmark) notched a 3-1 victory over the Catholic University Cardinals (4-4-2, 0-1-1 Landmark) on Saturday afternoon at Weiss Field in Scranton.
The Royals are now unbeaten in their last six contests dating back to Sept. 13.
Senior Niamh Healy (Orangeburg, N.Y./Tappan Zee) tied the game in the 58th minute with her team-leading 11th goal of the season and sophomore Linda Daly (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Lakeland) scored the eventual game-winner less than four minutes later.
Scranton threatened in the early stages of the first half with chances by Healy and junior Samantha Goffice (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown Area), but Catholic goalie Ava Rieger tallied a pair of saves to keep things scoreless for the time being. Catholic got on the board in the 14th minute when Sara Placide sent a ball into the box and Isabel Doherty finished the opportunity to give the visitors a 1-0 lead, which held for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes.
Senior Claire Mulholland (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee) saw her shot go just high of the target in the 53rd minute and the Royals then found the equalizer with Healy's afore-mentioned goal as senior Mary Haggerty (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) played a ball over the top and Healy got in behind the defense to even things at one. In the 62nd minute, Daly was able to collect a loose ball in the box with Rieger out of position and buried her first goal of the season to give Scranton a 2-1 lead. From there, the Royals held the Cardinals to just two shots over the final 25 minute and Goffice registered an insurance goal in the 78th minute when she stole the ball from Rieger as the goalie tried to control it. The goal was Goffice's first of the season.
Healy has scored in nine consecutive games and her 11 goals rank tied for ninth in all of Division III.
Head coach Colleen Pivirotto's team held a 14-9 shot advantage on the day led by four from Goffice and junior goalie Nicole Olson (Stoughton, Mass./Ursuline Academy) tallied four saves in the victory.
Pivirotto now has 199 career victories.
The Royals are back in action for a Landmark Conference battle on Tuesday night at Lycoming with start time slated for 7 p.m.
--ROYALS--
