Senior defender Noelle Malone (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) scored a goal and an assist to help The University of Scranton celebrate Senior Day with a 3-0 victory over Juniata College at Fitzpatrick Field on Saturday afternoon.

The victory improves Scranton to 7-7-4 overall and 4-0-2 in Landmark Conference play, and secures the top seed in next week’s Landmark Conference playoffs. The Royals will host Catholic at Fitzpatrick Field on Wednesday at a time to be determined.

Senior midfielder Sarah Gibbons (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township) and sophomore forward Samantha Russo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) added goals in the victory. The three goals were the most for Scranton since a 4-0 win at Susquehanna on Saturday, Oct. 6.

Russo put the Royals on the board midway through the first half when she picked up a loose ball next to the Juniata goalkeeper and slipped a shot past a defender for her fourth goal of the season.

Scranton carried that 1-0 lead into halftime, generated numerous other good scoring chances in the first 45 minutes. The Royals twice had shots hit the post and a third clanged off the crossbar as the lead easily could’ve been larger.

The lead in the 55th minute when Gibbons scored a goal thanks to some nice teamwork. Malone crossed the ball into the box from the left side to sophomore forward Kelsey O’Kane (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O’Hara), who tapped it right to Gibbons. She did the rest, blasting home her shot from 12 yards out for her third goal of the season. The assists were the first for both Malone and O’Kane.

Malone capped the scoring 10 minutes later when her shot from 25 yards out on the left wing was just over the outstretched arms of the Juniata keeper for her first goal of the season.

Junior goalkeeper Kelsy McAnelly (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) needed to make just one save while picking up her 10th shutout of the season.

Scranton held a 20-7 edge in shots over Juniata (9-7-1, 2-4 Landmark) and 5-1 in corner kicks.

The Royals improved to 3-3-1 at Fitzpatrick Field this season. They extended their unbeaten streak in Landmark Conference play to 22 straight games.

Prior to the game, Scranton’s seven seniors – Malone, Gibbons, forward Caila Zappala (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon), defender Amanda Kresge (Clifton, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy), defender Emily Farrell (Telford, Pa./Souderton Area), midfielder Sydney Parker (Randolph, N.J./Randolph), and defender Jessica Sciscione (Freehold, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) – were honored as part of Senior Day ceremonies.

The Royals will play next when they host Catholic in a Landmark Conference semifinal on Wednesday at a time to be determined. Second-seeded Moravian will host fourth-seeded Drew on Wednedsay at 3 p.m. in the other semifinal.

--ROYALS--