Royals Rally For 2-2 Tie Vs. Kean In Women's Soccer Action
The University of Scranton received goals from junior midfielder Sarah Gibbons (Monroe Township, N.J./Monroe Township) and junior forward Caila Zappala (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon) to rally from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 tie in double overtime against Kean University in women's soccer action at Fitzpatrick Field on Wednesday night.
Zappala tallied the game-tying goal in the 38th minute when she buried a shot past the Kean goalkeeper on a feed in front of the net from freshman forward Courtney O'Kane (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) to bring Scranton (3-1-1) even. The goal, Zappala's fourth of the season, came just eight minutes after Gibbons put the Royals on the board when she scored off a pass from senior midfielder Christina Cognetti (Westfield, N.J./Westfield). Gibbons' tally was her third of the season.
Kean jumped ahead early on a goal by junior forward Carly Seidel (Winslow Township, N.J./Winslow Township) just 2:34 into the match. Junior midfielder Kristen Hager (Spotswood, N.J./Spotswood) put the Cougars up, 2-0, when she scored on a feed from sophomore midfielder Samantha Kalafor (East Brunswick, N.J./East Brunswick) in the 25th minute.
The Scranton defense took over after halftime, holding Kean to just three shots after the break and only one in the overtime periods. The Royals also applied plenty of pressure on the Cougars (3-2-1) in the second half and overtime periods. Their best chance came when a shot by junior defender Amanda Kresge (Clifton, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) hit the crossbar midway through the first overtime.
The Royals return to action Saturday at noon when they travel to Doylestown, Pa., to take on Delaware Valley College.
--ROYALS--
