Women's Soccer | 11/13/2021 5:58:00 PM
SCRANTON, PA -- University of Scranton, ranked 11th by d3soccer.com, got the best of visiting Nazareth Saturday in a first-round women's soccer matchup in the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Royals scored twice in the first half and once more in the second for a 3-0 win to advance to Sunday's second round at 3 p.m. against the winner of the Geneseo-Connecticut College game.
Nazareth, making its 11th NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Empire 8 Conference Tournament last week, closes its season with a 10-7-3 overall record. Scranton, one of only four unbeaten teams remaining, improved to 17-0-1.
The Royals got after Nazareth early with nine first-half shots and seven corner kicks. Nazareth managed three shots in the first half -- one each for Caleigh Cahoon, McKayla Hughes and Lauren Begy -- and Scranton keeper Amanda Steinberg was called upon to make her only two saves of the game.
Scranton broke through in the 29th minute with Mary Haggerty scoring her fifth goal of the season as she one-timed a left-win crossing pass from Lauren Holden.
Scranton grabbed a 2-0 lead in the 42nd minute as Jessica Letherbarrow chipped a shot from the right side over the head of Nazareth keeper Annika Monfort for an unassisted tally.
The third goal came in the 80th minute after Monfort had made five of her six second-half saves. Evelyn Bruggeman was credited with the goal and Haggerty assisted.
Monfort finished with nine saves altogether as Scranton finished with a 20-4 edge in shots and an 11-1 advantage in corner kicks.