SCRANTON, Pa.—Freshman midfielder Heather Melone (Wall, N.J./Wall Township) scored four goals, including the game-winner late in the second-half, and added an assist to lift The University of Scranton to a come-from-behind 14-13 victory over FDU-Florham in the Middle Atlantic Conference opener for both teams Tuesday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.

Junior midfielder Jackie Messantonio (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Plymouth Whitemarsh) also scored four goals for Scranton, which overcame a 10-4 halftime deficit to improve to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the MAC. The Royals also received three goals and four assists from freshman attacker Kristen Marquino (Baldwin, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), a goal and an assist from junior attacker Kaitlyn Mimnaugh (New City, N.Y./Albertus Magnus) and sophomore midfielder Diana Rocklein (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip), and a goal from freshman attacker Regina Matus (Philadelphia, Pa./Cardinal Dougherty).

Sophomore attacker Amanda Wayne (Bell Port, N.Y./Bellport) scored five of her game-high six goals in the first half for FDU-Florham, which fell to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in league play. The Devils also received three goals from sophomore midfielder Laura Gambardello (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken), two from junior midfielder Lindsey Specht (Jackson, N.J./Jackson), and one each from freshman attackers Linda Bohn (Highland Lakes, N.J./Vernon) and Kristen Schuster (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach).

Behind two goals apiece from Gambardello and Wayne, the Devils set the tone early by jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the opening eight minutes of play. FDU-Florham won nine of 14 draw controls in the first-half to keep the Royals on defense throughout much of the first 30 minutes. Messantonio kept Scranton within striking distance by scoring two goals within a six-minute span midway through the first-half.

Scranton did a better job on the draw controls in the second-half and out-scored the Devils 5-2 in the opening 10 minutes to whittle the lead down to 12-9. Marquino then scored back-to-back goals and Messantonio and Melone added goals at the 7:32 and 6:10 marks, respectively, to give the Royals their first lead of the game, 13-12.

After Wayne tied it up with an unassisted goal at the 4:28 mark, Melone picked up a ground ball deep in Devil territory and went the length of the field and scored an unassisted goal with 2:34 remaining to set the final score.

Royal sophomore goalkeeper Kristina Goetz (New Hyde Park, N.Y./New Hyde Park Memorial) made two of her game-high 15 saves in the final two minutes of play to help seal the victory. Sophomore goalkeeper Christine Dunn (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken) was credited with seven saves for FDU-Florham, which out-shot Scranton 37-28 and held a 23-14 advantage in ground balls.

Melone and sophomore attacker Erin Quinn (Baltimore, Md./The Institute of Notre Dame) were also credited with an assist for Scranton, which presented first-year head coach Becky Davis with her first coaching victory. The Royals will return to action this Saturday, March 24, against Drew University in Middle Atlantic Conference action in Madison, New Jersey, beginning at 3:00 p.m.

2007-03-20