Freshman Lead Royals To Big Victory

September 14, 2013

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Led by a big day from its newest members, The University of Scranton women’s soccer team scored six second-half goals en route to its biggest victory in almost nine years, a 7-0 win over Delaware Valley on Saturday afternoon at Robert A. Lipinski Field.

Scranton (3-2) received a big game from its freshman, getting two goals and an assist from forward Kelsey Bacon (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus), a goal and an assist from forward Stephanie Gonnella (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) and two assists from midfielder Kelly Egan (Essex Falls, N.J./West Essex Senior).

The Royals led at halftime, 1-0, on a goal by senior forward Samantha Russo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) when she scored on a header off a corner kick by Egan in the 19^th minute. Scranton then took control 10 minutes into the second half when freshman forward Christina Akalski (Long Beach, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) scored from 15 yards out off a cross by Egan.

Six minutes later, Bacon scored the first goal of her career when she took a perfect feed from sophomore midfielder Michaela Arbus (Pequannock, N.J./DePaul Catholic) and scored from six yards out in the 62^nd minute. Six minutes later, junior midfielder Kaitlyn Greeley (Bardonia, N.Y./Clarkstown South) scored from 15 yards out for her first goal of the season and second of her career, giving Scranton a 4-0 lead.

Bacon added her second goal on an assist from Gonnella in the 78^th minute. Less than eight minutes later, Gonnella’s corner kick found its way into the back of the net for her first career goal. Scranton completed its scoring when sophomore forward Gianna Vitolo (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls) scored on a rebound of a shot by Bacon, who picked up her first career assist on the play.

All totaled, Scranton freshmen combined for four goals and four assists in the victory. The Royals held a 34-2 advantage in shots. Freshman goalkeeper Danielle Maurice (Farmingdale, N.Y./St. Anthony’s) made one save in her first career start to earn the shutout.

Perhaps lost in the stellar play by the freshmen was Russo’s first goal of the season, which gives her 23 for her career. She now has 65 career points (23 goals, 19 assists), which is 12^th best in school history. She is now 14^th all-time in career goals.

The seven goals were the most for Scranton since it defeated Lycoming, 7-1, on Sept. 20, 2006 at Fitzpatrick Field. The seven-goal margin of victory was the Royals’ largest since a 9-0 victory over King’s on Oct. 7, 2004.

Delaware Valley dropped to 2-3 on the season with the defeat.

Scranton will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 18, when it hosts cross-town rival Marywood at 7 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field.

--ROYALS--