Bacon's Scores Team-Leading 9th Goal of the Season To Lift Royals Past Penn St.-Berks, 1-0, Wednesday To Extend Winning Streak to 12
READING, Pa.—Freshman forward Kelsey Bacon (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) made sure The University of Scranton women's soccer team didn't need any late game heroics this afternoon against Penn St. Berks.
Bacon scored her team-leading ninth goal of the season in the 65th minute as the Royals downed the Lions, 1-0, for their 12th straight win to improve to 12-2. The loss dropped PSU-Berks to 12-3-1.
Scranton, which has pulled out a number of nail-biting victories in the closing minutes this season, held the Lions to just two shots on goal, both of which were saved by Royal freshman goalkeeper Krissy Welsh (Swarthmore, Pa/Strath Haven). She played the entire second half in place of starter Danielle Maurice (Farmingdale, NY/Saint Anthony's) to pick up her first career victory.
Bacon's nine goals to date are the most by a Scranton freshman since current senior forward Samantha Russo (Yorktown Heights, NY/Yorktown) tallied nine in 2010.
Overall, the Royal backline of junior Kaitlyn Greeley (Bardonia, NY/Clarkstown South) and sophomores Megan Manzo (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) and Erin Casey (Hatfield, Pa./Gwynedd-Mercy Academy) held Penn St.-Berks to only seven attempts. In addition to out-shooting the Lions 11-7, Scranton held a 4-0 advantage in penalty corners.
Scranton's 12-match winning streak is its longest since the 2003 team won 17 matches under the late and legendary head coach Joe Bochicchio. Current Royal head coach Colleen Murphy was a starter on that team.
The Royals will return to Landmark Conference action this Saturday, October 19, against Susquehanna University beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Fitzpatrick Field. All fans are asked to wear pink and donations will be accepted to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
