Early Second-Half Spurt Carries Scranton Over Smith

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.-The University of Scranton scored five straight goals to open the second half to break away from a 7-5 halftime lead en route to a 16-9 victory over Smith College (Mass.) Thursday afternoon.

Junior midfielder Kristin Pickell (Ambler, Pa./Wissahickon) scored a season-high five goals, first-year midfielder Jilliana DePaolera (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) had three goals and an assist, and sophomore Kaela Mahon (Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J./Saint Rose) and juniors Caroline Pryor (Robbinsville, N.J./Notre Dame) and Emma Sacramone (Orange, Conn./Amity) tallied two apiece as the Royals snapped a three-game losing streak to improve to 2-4.

Chelby Wakefield, Meaghan Fileti, Carolyn Whiting, and Phoebe Hopkins scored two goals apiece to pace Smith College.

Tied 5-5 with three minutes remaining before intermission, the Royals took the lead for good on a goal by Pryor on a play set up by Pickell and extended their lead to two by halftime on a goal by first-year midfielder Leslie Connelly (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) off of an assist by first-year midfielder Jaclyn Calabrese (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown East).

Sacramone scored back-to-back goals to spark a 5-0 rally in the opening eight minutes of the second half as Scranton stretched its lead to 12-5. Smith College got no closer than five points the rest of the way.

Senior Cassie Murphy (Wantagh, N.Y./MacArthur) played more than 43 minutes in goal and finished with nine saves and first-year goalie Kathleen Smart (Hatboro, Pa./Archbishop Wood) stopped seven shots in over 16 minutes of action.

The Royals held a 36-30 advantage in shots and a 17-10 margin in draw controls.

Scranton will return to action on Wednesday, March 24, against Neumann College at Fitzpatrick Field beginning at 7:00 p.m.

2010-03-18