ELMIRA, N.Y. – Freshman defender Pat Codispoti (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Chaminade) was in the right place at the right time for The University of Scranton men’s soccer team on Tuesday afternoon.

Codispoti scored when he collected a loose ball in front of the net in the 84^th minute to lift the Royals to a 1-0 victory at Elmira at Campus Field. The victory was the second straight for Scranton (7-1-3) and the seventh in their last nine matches.

The goal was the second of the season for Codispoti, who also scored in a season-opening 2-2 draw against Elizabethtown on Friday, Aug. 30, at Fitzpatrick Field. His tally came after the Elmira goalkeeper made a save on Scranton senior forward Tom O’Connor (Great River, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) and the Eagles’ defenders failed to clear the ball.

The Royals outshot Elmira, 23-9, and had a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks. Freshman goalkeeper Eric Hintz (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor) made one save to earn his seventh victory and fourth shutout of the season.

Ten players had shots for Scranton, led by five from freshman forward Bijan Eizadkhah (Bridgewater, N.J./Gill St. Bernard’s) off the bench.

Scranton has outshot all 11 opponents so far this season, holding five of them under 10 shots. Only seven teams have had more than three shots on goal against the Royals.

The win improved the Royals to 6-0 all-time against Elmira, which fell to 4-6 with the loss. It was the first meeting between the schools since Scranton posted a 7-0 victory in 2005.

Scranton is back in action on Saturday, Oct. 12, when the Royals host the United States Merchant Marine Academy in a Landmark Conference match at noon at Fitzpatrick Field.

--ROYALS--