SCRANTON, Pa. – The University of Scranton men's soccer team saw its outstanding 2025 season come to an end on Sunday afternoon, as No. 17 Williams College used two first-half goals to edge the Royals, 2–1, in the NCAA Second Round at Weiss Field.
How It Happened
- Scranton opened the scoring in the 17th minute on a perfectly executed set piece. Preston Rushmore delivered a driven free kick into the box, where James Mayo rose to flick a header into traffic. The redirected ball dropped to the feet of Drew Paxson, who buried a first-time finish for a 1–0 lead.
- Williams answered just 44 seconds later, connecting on a cross to the top of the box that was headed in with a long finish to tie the match.
- The Ephs went ahead in the 24th minute with a well-struck free kick from just outside the 18-yard box that curled into the top-left corner.
- Scranton pushed relentlessly throughout the second half, outshooting Williams 17–9 and generating 14 corner kicks. The Royals created multiple dangerous late chances but were unable to find the equalizer.
Inside the Box Score
- Shots: Scranton 17, Williams 9
- Shots on Goal: Scranton 6, Williams 5
- Corner Kicks: Scranton 14, Williams 2
Top Performers
Season Summary
- Scranton concludes its remarkable 2025 season at 13-1-6, highlighted by an unbeaten regular season and the program's first NCAA Tournament victory since 2016.
- The Royals also finished the year as the nation's top defensive unit, allowing just four goals all season—a new program record—while setting several additional defensive milestones along the way under head coach Andy Loughnane.
