Royals Tie Swarthmore In Top 25 Battle

by Randy Shemanski

October 10, 2012

SWARTHMORE, Pa. – Playing its first game since moving into the national rankings, The University of Scranton men’s soccer team went on the road to face a highly ranked opponent for the second time in five days and came away with another favorable result.

The Royals, ranked No. 22 in the country in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll, battled to a 1-1 draw in double overtime against No. 16 Swarthmore at Clothier Field Stadium. The tie extends Scranton’s unbeaten run to start the season to 11 games, the third-best start in school history.

Senior midfielder Patrick R. Daly (Lebanon, N.J./Immaculata) scored for the Royals (9-0-2). His goal on an assist from sophomore defender Tom O’Connor (Great River, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) put Scranton ahead in the 29th minute. The goal was the first of Daly’s career while O’Connor picked up his second assist of the season.

After the Royals held that 1-0 lead into halftime, the Garnet (8-1-2) answered on a goal by sophomore forward Michael Stewart (Philadelphia, Pa./The Shipley School) in the 61st minute.

Senior goalkeeper James Dillon (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) made three saves in the draw. He and the Royals have now allowed one or no goals in 10 of 11 matches this season.

Swarthmore outshot Scranton, 13-12, while each team had three corner kicks.

The match had key regional ramifications as Swarthmore came in ranked No. 2 while Scranton was just behind at No. 3 in the Mid-Atlantic region rankings by the NSCAA.

On Saturday, Oct. 6, Scranton knocked off then 15th-ranked Susquehanna, 1-0, on the road. Following that win, the Royals debuted at No. 22 in the latest NSCAA national rankings, released on Tuesday.

The Royals are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 3:30 p.m. when they host Drew University in a Landmark Conference match at Fitzpatrick Field.

--ROYALS--