SCRANTON, Pa. – Graduate student Katie Redding (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) scored the game-winner 2:32 into overtime and The University of Scranton field hockey team (1-0) notched a 2-1 victory over the Muhlenberg College Mules (0-1) to open the 2024 season on Friday at Weiss Field in Scranton.
Redding took a feed across the circle from fellow graduate student Bridget Abraldes (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) and was able to backhand a shot past Muhlenberg goalie Grace Leard for the game-winner.
The goal was the 56th of Redding's career, which is the second most all-time in program history and one shy of the record of 57.
Scranton has now won four straight meetings against the Mules dating back to 2021.
Muhlenberg had a handful of scoring chances in the early going, but senior Lauren Franco (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Henderson) and graduate student Elle Collins (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) both tallied defensive saves within the first six minutes to keep things scoreless for the time being. Early in the second quarter, the Royals saw a couple of chances when Leard made a pair of saves in the 16th and 17th minutes. Erin Jackson struck in the 21st minute to give the Mules a 1-0 lead that held through the remainder of the second quarter and into halftime.
Redding scored the equalizer in the 35th minute as she took a pass from senior Reagan Dolan (Broomall, Pa./Bonner & Prendergast) and found the back of the cage to knot things at one apiece. Head coach Colleen Moyer's team continued to mount the pressure offensively in the fourth quarter, but Leard tallied five saves in the quarter to send the game to overtime where Redding proved the heroics.
The Royals held a commanding 25-7 edge in shots led by eight apiece from Dolan and Redding. Leard tallied nine saves, while senior goalie Gianna Travia (Havertown, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) registered one save for the hosts.
Scranton hits the road to face No. 11 York (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon with action slated to get underway at 4 p.m.
--ROYALS--
