MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Soccer matches often come down to who capitalizes on the chances they create. Saturday’s NCAA Tournament first-round women’s soccer match between The University of Scranton and Endicott College was the perfect example.

The Royals created numerous chances early in the first half and again in the second half, but it was the Gulls who capitalized on one of their chances, scoring a goal on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute to hand Scranton a 1-0  defeat at Middlebury College on Saturday afternoon.

The loss snapped an 18-match unbeaten streak for Scranton (15-3-3), who hadn’t lost since a 2-0 loss to defending national champion Messiah in the second match of the season.

The match opened with Scranton controlling possession deep in its offensive end, but the Royals couldn’t generate a solid shot. After the 15-minute mark, Endicott (16-5-2) settled down and drew a corner kick when the left outside midfielder got deep on the left side and forced the Scranton defense to deflect the ball out of play.

The ensuing corner kick sailed into the box and found the feet of sophomore midfielder LeeAnn Card (Paxton, Mass./Wachusett), who rifled a shot into the lower right corner to give the Gulls a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute.

Scranton opened the second half continuing to push forward, but the possession was a little more even in the second half. The Royals generated a handful of chances, including one in the 72nd minute when senior forward Samantha Russo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) got free and took a shot from 22 yards out that clanged off the crossbar and bounced high away.

A few minutes later, a corner kick by junior midfielder Ellen Walker (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) sailed past the Endicott goalkeeper and through the entire Gulls defense just six yards in front of the goalmouth, but no Scranton player could get a touch on it.

The Gulls had a chance to put the game away in the last 10 minutes when they drew a foul just outside the box on the right side, but the direct kick just curled wide of the far post.

Scranton had one last chance with about two minutes left, but freshman forward Christina Akalski (Long Beach, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) was forced to rush her shot from 23 yards out and it was wide left.

Scranton had an 11-7 advantage in shots an 6-3 in corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper Kelsy McAnelly (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) made two saves in her final career game. Sophomore midfielder Gianna Vitolo (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls) and freshman midfielder Kelly Egan (Essex Falls, N.J./West Essex) each had two shots to lead Scranton.

The match also marked the final career game for Russo, senior defender Kaitlyn Greeley (Bardonia, N.Y./Clarkstown South) and senior midfielder Katie Hennigan (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell).

Scranton was making its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and 15th in school history. The Royals’ 15 wins this season are the most for the program since they won 16 in 2010 and marked the 25th season of 10-or-more wins in school history.

--ROYALS--