DALLAS, Pa.—The University of Scranton men’s soccer team picked up another confidence-building victory Wednesday evening.

Behind goals by senior Bill McGuiness (Forty Fort, Pa./Wyoming Valley West), junior Colin McFadden (Ventnor City, NJ/St. Augustine Preparatory), and sophomore Kevin Kozic (Raritan, NJ/Immaculata), and a 9-save performance by senior goalie Jamie Dillon (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East), the Royals topped Misericordia University, 3-1, to improve to 6-0. 

The win also avenged a 5-0 loss to Cougars last year at Fitzpatrick Field and further justified the Royals’ recent 10^th-place ranking in the Mid-Atlantic by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).  Misericordia, which began the season ranked sixth in the region, fell to 3-4 with the loss.

McGuiness’ goal gives him a team-leading six on the season, nearly double his output of his previous two years in a Royal uniform.  He scored, unassisted, in the 24^th minute to give Scranton a 1-0 lead before assisting on McFadden’s momentum-breaking goal in the 85^th minute, just nine minutes after Misericordia got back into the match on a goal by senior Andy Bush (Dubois, Pa./Dubois).

Kozic extended Scranton’s 1-0 halftime lead in the 68^th minute by successfully converting a corner kick served up by sophomore Rich Loeffler (Matawan, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) for his fourth goal of the season. 

Defensively, Dillon’s nine saves were a season-high and tied his entire save output in his previous five matches.

Scranton, off to its best start in 19 years, will host Goucher College in the Landmark Conference opener for both teams this Saturday, September 22, at 3:30 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field.