Royals Roll Lucky Seven Again In Victory

September 18, 2013

Senior forward Samantha Russo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) and sophomore forward Gianna Vitolo (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls) both scored twice as The University of Scranton women’s soccer team scored seven goals for the second straight match, defeating Marywood University, 7-0, on Wednesday night at Fitzpatrick Field.

The Royals (4-2) scored six times in the first half en route to their fourth straight victory. The seven goals came just four days after they defeated Delaware Valley by the same score on Saturday, Sept. 14. The 14 goals are the most in back-to-back matches since Scranton scored 16 in consecutive victories in 2003.

Russo scored twice in the opening 22 minutes, the first time on a breakaway off a perfect feed from midfield by junior defender Kaitlyn Greeley (Bardonia, N.Y./Clarkstown South). The second came from the top of the box off a pass from freshman midfielder Kelly Egan (Essex Falls, N.J./West Essex Senior).

The two goals give Russo three on the season and 25 for her career, tied for 13^th all-time at Scranton. She later picked up an assist, her first of the season, giving her 20 career assists, tied for ninth in school history. Her 70 career points are 13^th in school history.

Vitolo scored her first goal in the 23^rd minute on her first touch of the match when she tapped in a perfect cross from Russo. She scored just over 10 minutes later, again on a perfect feed, this time from freshman forward Kelsey Bacon (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus). The two goals give Vitolo three on the season, one short of her total from last season.

Scranton also received goals from Bacon, senior midfielder Katie Hennigan (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell) and freshman forward Christina Akalski (Long Beach, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), who also had an assist. Akalski’s goal was her fourth, which leads the team, while Bacon picked up her third and Hennigan scored her first of the season.

Freshman defender Courtney Sills (Island Park, N.Y./West Hempstead) picked up an assist on Bacon’s goal just before the half for her first career point.

The Royals outshot the Pacers, 23-6, and held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks. Marywood fell to 0-4-1 with the loss.

Scranton has now outscored its opponents 16-0 during its four-game winning streak after being outscored 3-0 in two losses to open the season.

The Royals are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 21, when they travel to Farmingdale, N.Y. to take on Farmingdale State at 2 p.m.

--ROYALS--