Here is a weekly wrap-up of University of Scranton athletic events during the period of Monday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 24. To see the full link to the Royal Review, visit http://matrix.scranton.edu/athletics/gnoct252010.shtml.

Field Hockey (5-11 Overall/1-5 Landmark Conference)
The field hockey team played two road games this past week, coming up on the short end of the stick in a 4-0 decision to Albright College on Thursday, Oct. 21, in Reading, and a 4-1 setback to Juniata College in Landmark Conference action on Saturday, Oct. 23, in Huntington.

Senior forward Tara Winter (Ossining, N.Y./Ossining) scored her second goal of the season off of a play set up by senior midfielder Corrie Szapka (Northampton/Allentown Central Catholic) in Saturday’s game against Juniata.  The Royals will close out the season with three games this week, two of which will be played at Fitzpatrick Field.

Men’s Soccer (5-10-1 Overall /1-5 Landmark Conference)
The Royals earned their first Landmark Conference victory of the season with a 1-0 decision over Juniata College on Saturday, Oct. 23, at Fitzpatrick Field. The Royals got on the scoreboard in the 23rd minute on a goal by sophomore forward Corey Radel (Holland/Council Rock) off an assist from sophomore midfielder Patrick Daley (Rochester, N.Y./Aquinas). Radel’s goal was his second of the season.

Defensively, the Royals limited the Eagles to just two shots on goal, both of which were stopped by sophomore goalkeeper James Dillon (Downingtown/Downingtown), who came on in relief of starter Brandon Dombrowski (Hockessin, Del./Salesianum) at halftime.

Earlier in the week, the Royals dropped a 2-0 decision to Moravian College in Landmark Conference action in Bethlehem.

Women’s Soccer (12-4-1 Overall/5-0 Landmark Conference)
It was another productive week for first-year forward Samantha Russo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown).

She scored three goals and assisted on two others as the Royals defeated Moravian College, 3-0, on Tuesday, Oct. 19, in Bethlehem, and Juniata College, 3-1, on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Fitzpatrick Field. The wins also secured the top seed and home field advantage for Scranton in the upcoming Landmark Conference tournament.

The Royals, ranked fourth in the Mid-Atlantic region by the NCAA and seventh by the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA), have won three straight and nine of their last 11 matches. Defensively, Scranton has allowed only four goals in its last 11 matches and just eight for the entire season.

Men’s Swimming (1-0)
The men’s swim team opened its 2011 season by defeating FDU-Florham, 83-38, on Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Byron Center.

Sophomore Andrew Urban (Ambler/Lansdale Catholic) won the 50 (:22.54) and 100 (:50.49) freestyle to lead the way. The Royals also received first-place finishes from senior Joseph Costello (Edison, N.J./St. Joseph’s) in the 1000 free (11:29.90), junior Marc Dezii (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) in the 200 free (1:50.42), junior David Hovey (Forty Fort,/Wyoming Valley West) in the 200 individual medley (2:10.64), sophomore Stephen Nicolosi (Clarks Green/Abington Heights) in the 100 butterfly (:54.50), sophomore Christian Tierney (Sussex, N.J./Pope John Paul XXIII) in the 100 back (:58.26), and junior Andrew Kelly (Maple Glen/St. Joseph’s Preparatory) in the 500 free (5:28.46).

Women’s Swimming (1-0)
Junior Carolyn Gillespie (New Market, Md./Linganore) and sophomore Colleen Logan (Garden City, N.y./Garden City) won two events apiece to lead the women’s swim team to a season-opening 83-56 victory over FDU-Florham on Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Byron Center. Gillespie won the 100 (:56.40) and 200 (2:01.78) free while Logan dominated the distance events, winning the 1000 free in 11:26.68 and the 500 free in 5:40.06. 

Also posting first-place finishes were sophomore Victoria Meyer (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) in the 50 free (:26.84), sophomore Lauren Snyder (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel) in the 200 individual medley (2:25.95), senior Brittany Reyes (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) in the 100 butterfly (1:03.77), and first-year swimmer Sara Franciscovich (Frederick, Md./Governor Thomas Johnson) in the 100 back (1:05.73).

Volleyball (13-15 Overall/1-5 Landmark Conference)
The volleyball team ended a three-match losing streak with a 3-0 victory over Lycoming College on Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Long Center.  On Saturday, Oct. 23, Scranton dropped matches to Lebanon Valley College, 3-0, and Gallaudet University, 3-2, in Annville.

First-year outside hitter Michaela McCrudden (Fort Washington/Mt. St. Joseph Academy) and sophomore outside hitter Jenell McFadden (Springfield/Merion Mercy Academy) combined for 17 kills and 17 digs and senior middle blocker Julia Kropf (Fleetwood/Fleetwood Area) finished with six kills and four digs in the victory over Lycoming.  Prior to the start of the match, Kropf was honored as part of Senior Night activities.

Kropf led the way against Lebanon Valley, finishing with eight kills, and McFadden contributed five kills and 12 digs.  McCrudden and McFadden had another solid effort against Gallaudet, combining for 25 kills and 44 digs and first-year right-side hitter Katie Newman (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had nine kills, six service aces, and 15 digs.

Here is the upcoming schedule for Royal Athletics.

Tuesday, Oct. 26

Field Hockey – VASSAR (FITZPATRICK FIELD, 7 p.m.)

Men’s Soccer – ONEONTA ST. (FITZPATRICK FIELD, 3:30 p.m.)

Volleyball – at Widener (7 p.m.)

Thursday, Oct. 28

Field Hockey – KEYSTONE (FITZPATRICK FIELD, 7 p.m.)

Friday, Oct. 29

Volleyball – at Messiah Tournament
vs. Misericordia (5 p.m.)
vs. Penn State-Berks (7 p.m.)

Saturday, Oct. 30

Men’s & Women’s Cross-Country – at Landmark Conference Championships (Goucher College, Towson, Md., women’s race, 11 a.m./men’s race, noon)

Field Hockey – at Goucher (1 p.m.)

Men’s Soccer – GOUCHER (FITZPATRICK FIELD, 3:30 p.m.)

Women’s Soccer – GOUCHER (FITZPATRICK FIELD, 1 p.m.)

Men’s & Women’s Swimming – at Widener (1 p.m.)

Volleyball – at Messiah Tournament
vs. Messiah (10 a.m.)
vs. Catholic (2:30 p.m.)

Wrestling – ELECTRIC CITY DUALS (LONG CENTER, 10 a.m.)