Freshman forward Gianna Vitolo (Denville, N.J./Morris Knolls) had a goal and an assist to lead The University of Scranton women’s soccer team to a 3-0 victory over Goucher College in the Landmark Conference opener for both teams at Fitzpatrick Field on Saturday morning.

The Royals (3-4-2, 1-0 Landmark) also received goals from junior forward Samantha Russo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) and freshman midfielder Michaela Arbus (Pequannock, N.J./DePaul Catholic) while picking up their third straight victory.

Scranton scored all three of its goals in a 14-minute span in the first half. Russo put the Royals on the board when she scored her second goal of the season off a feed from sophomore midfielder Ellen Walker (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) at the 23:28 mark. The assist was Walker’s first of the season.

A little more than 11 minutes later, Arbus scored her first career goal when she tapped in a rebound of shot by Vitolo that was saved by Goucher’s goalkeeper. Less than three minutes later, Vitolo gave Scranton a 3-0 lead when she scored her team-leading third goal of the season on an assist by freshman midfielder Megan Manzo (Shelton, Conn./Shelton), who picked up her first career assist.

The Royals controlled action for most of the match, outshooting the Gophers, 18-5. Scranton has now outshot each of its nine opponents this season. The Royals also held a 5-0 advantage in corner kicks.

Junior goalkeeper Kelsy McAnelly (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) made a pair of saves for her fourth shutout of the season. The victory improves the Royals to 6-1 all-time against Goucher.

Goucher, which was off to the best start in school history, fell to 7-1 and 0-1 in Landmark Conference play. Freshman goalie Lexi Rudolph (Kensington, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel) made four saves in the loss.

Scranton returns to action on Tuesday, Sept. 25, when it travels to Allentown, Pa. to take on Muhlenberg College at 7 p.m.

--ROYALS--