EDWARDSVILLE, Pa. – The University of Scranton men’s soccer team overcame a slow start and an early deficit to post a 2-1 victory over Wilkes on Wednesday evening at Schmidt Field.

Scranton (7-2-1) received a goal late in the first half from sophomore forward Henry Bonilla (Fairless Hills, Pa./The Pennington School) and the game-winning goal early in the second half from sophomore midfielder Michael Bergen (Newtown, Pa./The Pennington School).

The former high school teammates turned Royals teammates scored their goals less than four minutes apart in game time. Bonilla knotted the score at the 44:03 mark of the first half when he scored his first goal of the season and second of his career.

Bergen put the Royals ahead at 47:53 when he scored on an assist by fellow sophomore midfielder Tim DiBisceglie (Mine Hill, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s). The goal was Bergen’s second of the season and fourth of his career while DiBisceglie picked up his first assist of the season and second of his career.

Wilkes (2-10) had taken an early lead on a goal in the 13th minute.

Scranton finished with an 8-5 advantage in shots despite being outshot 5-1 in the first half, with the only shot coming on Bonilla’s goal 57 seconds before the halftime horn. Senior midfielders Rich Loeffler (Matawan, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) and Tom O’Connor (Great River, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) led the team with two shots apiece. The Royals also held a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.

The Royals will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 4, when they host Juniata in a Landmark Conference match at 1 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field. The game will be a Red Card Cancer event, with the Royals collecting donations and selling wristbands to support the Red Card Cancer initiative, which supports the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

--ROYALS--