DALLAS, Pa. – Another match, another game-winning goal for senior midfielder Bill McGuiness (Forty Fort, Pa./Wyoming Valley West). This time, it was a tally in the 55th minute for McGuiness that propelled The University of Scranton men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory at Misericordia on Tuesday evening.

After a scoreless first half, McGuiness scored the only goal of the match when he gained control and fooled the defense with a quick shot that snuck past Misericordia’s goalkeeper at the 54:54 mark. He now has six goals on the season, all in the past five matches.

McGuiness has scored in each of the Royals’ last five matches, a string in which they are 4-0-1. He has scored the game-winner in three of those victories and now has 10 game-winning goals in his career. With 57 career points (22 goals, 13 assists), McGuiness is now tied for 19th all-time in Scranton history in scoring.

Scranton (4-0-2) held a 14-12 advantage in shots, including 10-5 in the second half. McGuiness led the way with five shots while seven other players had at least one.

The Royals’ defense continued its strong play, holding the Cougars (4-2) to just two shots on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Eric Hintz (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor) made a pair of saves for his fourth victory and second shutout in goal. Scranton has allowed just two goals during its four-match winning streak and has allowed only five on the season, two of which came in a season-opening 2-2 tie against Elizabethtown on Aug. 30.

The six-match unbeaten streak to open the season is the program’s second-longest since 1993, trailing only last season’s 13-match unbeaten run. Scranton went on to go 17-3-2 and reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament last season.

Scranton returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 21, when it travels to Albright for a match at 8 p.m.

--ROYALS--