Sophomore defender Erin Casey (Hatfield, Pa./Gwynedd Mercy Academy) had just one career goal entering this season. Now she has scored two in the past two matches, both game-winners.

Casey scored on a direct kick from 28 yards out in the 37th minute as The University of Scranton defeated Wilkes University, 2-0, on Wednesday night at Fitzpatrick Field for its eighth straight victory.

Four days earlier, Casey scored off a corner kick early in a 1-0 victory for the Royals (8-2) in their Landmark Conference opener at Juniata. She entered that match with one career goal, also a game-winner in a 1-0 win at Moravian last season.

Scranton also received a goal by sophomore forward Gianna Vitolo (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls), who headed the ball past the Wilkes goalkeeper in the 69^th minute. It was Vitolo’s fourth goal of the season, tied for second most on the team, and the eighth of her career.

The eight-match winning streak is the longest for Scranton since a 17-match winning streak in 2003. That season, the Royals finished 22-1-1, including a pair of wins in the NCAA Tournament.

Scranton has outscored opponents 24-3 during the eight-match winning streak, which has featured six shutouts. Dating back to the middle of 2011, 20 of Scranton’s last 23 victories have come by way of shutout. They also have four scoreless draws during that period, giving the Royals shutouts in 24 of their last 38 matches.

Senior goalkeeper Kelsy McAnelly (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) made two saves, both in the second half, for her seventh win and fourth shutout of the season. She now has 31 career victories and 27 career shutouts, the latter of which is second all-time in school history.

Scranton finished with 16 shots to just six for Wilkes (5-3-2). The Royals also had an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The Royals are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 5, when they travel to Towson, Md. to take on Goucher College in a Landmark Conference match at 1 p.m.

--ROYALS--