WASHINGTON, D.C. – When The University of Scranton women’s soccer team took the field at Catholic on Saturday afternoon, it had been exactly 1,809 days since the Royals had lost to a fellow Landmark Conference foe, a span of 35 games. That streak came to an unfortunate end on Saturday.

The Royals suffered a heart-breaking 2-1 overtime loss at Catholic, just 84 seconds into overtime. Scranton had not lost to a Landmark opponent, including playoffs, since falling to the Cardinals, 3-2, on Nov. 4, 2009, in the Landmark Conference championship at Catholic. Nearly half a decade later, the streak came to an end on the very same field. 

Scranton (6-6-2, 2-1-1 Landmark) had tied the game in the 73rd minute on a goal by junior forward Gianna Vitolo (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls). Her header on a cross by senior midfielder Ellen Walker (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) negated a Catholic goal in the 36th minute and eventually forced overtime.

Vitolo’s goal was her second of the season and 11th of her career. Walker picked up her second assist of the season and ninth of her career. 

The Royals nearly had the first goal of the game, but a shot by Vitolo off a corner kick in the 33rd minute hit the crossbar and caromed away. Vitolo would finish the match with a team-high three shots.

Catholic (10-1-2, 4-0 Landmark) held a slim 8-7 advantage in shots, and both teams had five corner kicks. 

Scranton returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 22, when the Royals host Penn State-Berks at 7 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field.

--ROYALS--