Here is a weekly wrap-up of University of Scranton athletic events during the period of Monday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Oct. 3. To see the full link to the Royal Review, visit http://matrix.scranton.edu/athletics/gnoct42010.shtml.

Field Hockey (4-5 Overall/0-1 Landmark Conference)

The Royals ended a two-game losing skid with a dramatic 2-1 victory in overtime against Stevens Institute of Technology on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at Fitzpatrick Field

Less than three minutes into the extra stanza, sophomore forward Gretchen Kempf (Warrington/Central Bucks South) received a pass from first-year midfielder Laura Megargel (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) and drilled a shot from 14 yards out that found the left corner of the cage for the game-winning goal.  Scranton took a 1-0 lead early in the first half on a goal by senior forward Kaitlyn Tirney (Springfield/Springfield), her team-leading fifth of the year.

On Saturday, Oct. 2, at Fitzpatrick Field, the Royals suffered their third straight Landmark Conference season-opening loss to Susquehanna, 2-1.  It was also the ninth straight game between Scranton and Susquehanna that was decided by one goal.  The Royals tied it up early in the second half on an unassisted goal by first-year forward Caitlin Liberatore (Ambler/Mt. St. Joseph Academy), but the Crusaders scored the game-winning goal less than three minutes later.

Men's Soccer (4-5-1 Overall /0-2 Landmark Conference)
The men's soccer team suffered back-to-back shutouts during the period, losing to Vassar College, 2-0, on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at Fitzpatrick Field and to Susquehanna University, 2-0, in Landmark Conference action on Saturday, Oct. 2, in Selinsgrove, Pa.

Offensively, the Royals have managed just one goal in their last five matches.

Women's Soccer (7-4 Overall/1-0 Landmark Conference)
Behind a goal by first-year forward Samantha Russo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) in the 66th minute of the second half, the Royals pulled out a 1-0 victory over Susquehanna University in its Landmark Conference opener on Saturday, Oct. 2, in Selinsgrove, Pa. 

Russo's goal was set up by sophomore midfielder Sydney Parker (Randolph, N.J./Randolph), who recorded her third assist of the season. Senior goalkeeper Caitlin Byrne (East Rutherford, N.J./IHA) made two saves to earn her fifth shutout of the year and the 18th of her career, which places her into a fourth-place tie with Jackey Colley (18 shutouts, 2004-2007) on the Royals's all-time list.

Scranton opened the week by dropping a 2-0 decision to 24th-ranked Oneonta State University in upstate New York on Tuesday, Sept. 28.

Women's Tennis (1-2 Overall/0-0 Landmark Conference)
In its only match of the week, the women's tennis fell behind 3-0 after doubles play and never recovered in dropping a 6-3 decision to Misericordia University on Friday, Oct. 2, in Dallas, Pa.

First-year players Stephanie Boccuzzi (Doylestown/Central Bucks East) and Devon Cohen (Ambler/Hatboro-Horsham) and senior Danielle Wylie (Schnecksville/Parkland) each recorded wins for the Royals.  Boccuzzi downed Michelle Camerson, 6-2, 6-2, at one, Cohen stopped Ashley Mangabang at three, 6-2, 6-4, and Wylie defeated Courtney Ott, 6-1, 6-0, at four. All three players are now 2-1 on the year. In addition, Wylie improved to 27-19 (.587) in her career.

Volleyball (9-10 Overall/1-2 Landmark Conference)
The volleyball team took part in the first round Landmark Conference round-robin competition on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2-3, at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa.

The Royals started off on a winning note, downing the Merchant Marine Academy, 3-2, but dropped matches to Susquehanna, 3-0, and Goucher, 3-2.

Against the Merchant Marine Academy, sophomore outside hitter Jenell McFadden (Springfield/Merion Mercy Academy) finished with a career-high 27 kills and added 14 digs—her sixth 'double-double' of the season—and first-year outside hitter Michaela McCrudden (Fort Washington/Mt. St. Joseph Academy) had 10 kills and 15 digs.

McCrudden was Scranton's best bet against Susquehanna, finishing with 10 kills and five digs and McFadden and first-year right-side hitter Katie Newman (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) chipped in seven and six kills, respectively.

In the loss to Goucher, a match in which the Royals bolted out to a 2-0 lead, Scranton received 13 kills and 17 digs from McCrudden and sophomore Marissa Every (East Norriton, Pa./Mt. St. Joseph Academy) finished with a match-high 32 digs.  In three matches, Every recorded 91 digs.

Here is the upcoming schedule for Royal Athletics.

Tuesday, Oct. 5
Women's Tennis – BAPTIST BIBLE (3:30 p.m., POLY HI TENNIS COURTS)
Volleyball – BAPTIST BIBLE (7 p.m., LONG CENTER)

Wednesday, Oct. 6
Field Hockey – MORAVIAN (7 p.m., FITZPATRICK FIELD)
Golf – at King's (1 p.m.)
Men's Soccer – at Lebanon Valley (4 p.m.)
Women's Soccer – DELAWARE VALLEY (4 p.m., FITZPATRICK FIELD)

Thursday, Oct. 7
Golf – at Alvernia Invitational (12:30 p.m.)

Saturday, Oct. 9
Men's & Women's Cross-Country – at DeSales Invitational (10:30 a.m.)
Field Hockey – at Drew (1 p.m.)
Men's Soccer – DREW (3:30 p.m., FITZPATRICK FIELD)
Women's Soccer – DREW (1 p.m., FITZPATRICK FIELD)
Volleyball – at Muhlenberg (4 p.m.)
vs. Washington (Md.) (2 p.m.)