Sophomore forward Nick Paganelli (Ossining, N.Y./Fordham Prep) scored in the third minute and The University of Scranton men’s soccer team rode its defense the rest of the way en route to a 1-0 victory over Oneonta State on Wednesday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.

The Royals (8-1-3) won their third straight match while improving to 3-0-2 at Fitzpatrick Field this season.

Paganelli scored the match-winner early on when he beat the Oneonta State goalkeeper to the ball at the top of the box, barely getting a foot on the ball before the two collided. But it was enough as the ball cleanly bounced into the net for his second goal of the season.

Senior midfielder Bill McGuiness (Forty Fort, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) picked up an assist on the play, his first of the season, giving him a team-high 15 points and 60 for his career.

Freshman goalkeeper Eric Hintz (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor) made a season-high six saves to earn the shutout, including a key stop right before the horn ended the first half, and another leaping tip off the crossbar that he then controlled midway through the second half.

The shutout was the fifth of the season for Hintz, who has played every minute in goal this season for Scranton.

The Royals also got strong play along the backline from senior Stephen Kilty (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West), senior Jared Miranda (Westbury, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), sophomore Michael Dorney (Avon, Conn./Avon), sophomore Ryan Smith (Maple Glen, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and freshman Matthew Busch (Mahwah, N.J./Mahwah).

Scranton held an 18-12 advantage in shots, including seven by McGuiness, and 3-0 advantage in corner kicks over the Red Dragons (9-3-3). The six shots on goal by the Red Dragons were a season-high against Scranton.

The Royals are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 19, when they host Susquehanna University in a Landmark Conference match at 3:30 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field.

--ROYALS--

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