Corner kick defense versus Scranton
Tyler Schueck
1
Scranton SCRWS17 (11-3-2)
3
Winner Penn State Berks PSBW (10-5-1)
Scranton SCRWS17
(11-3-2)
1
Final
3
Penn State Berks PSBW
(10-5-1)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Scranton SCRWS17 0 1 1
Penn State Berks PSBW 2 1 3

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Women's soccer wins 3-1 thriller over Scranton

READING, PA - The offense was banging on all cylinders as the Penn State Berks women's soccer team earned its first ever victory over the University of Scranton with a 3-1 triumph in Wednesday night's non-conference contest.

The Nittany Lions improve to 10-5-1 on the season, while the Royals drop to 11-3-2 overall.

Berks got on the board early when Caitlin Golden recorded a phenomenal goal at the 4:59 mark of the opening period for her 16th score of the season. The play was set up in the midfield by Megan Jardine, who sent a nice pass down the sideline to Julia Green. Green sent the ball to Golden, who spun around just outside of the box and ripped a line drive over the keeper's head and under the crossbar to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 advantage.

The home squad kept pressuring and had the ball deep into Scranton territory around the midway point of the first half. Monica Pinel tried to cross the ball from inside the box, but the pass was blocked by the hand of the Royals defender, to give Berks a penalty kick. Jardine converted the penalty kick with 28:12 on the clock and doubled the lead to 2-0.

Berks enjoyed the two-goal cushion, but knew it would not be safe against a quality Scranton team that is ranked No. 4 in the Mid-East Region. Jardine had a shot go high just 17 seconds into the second half and added two more shots over the next two minutes. Scranton was able to work a couple of corner kicks over the next 10 minutes, but Paige Elmy and the defense were able to bat the ball out of harms way.

The Nittany Lions received their first corner kicks of the second half at 66:25, but the insert was knocked back out of play by the Royals. Alexa Lopez then inserted another corner kick, but once again, the ball was played out by Scranton. The third insert from Lopez was played around from inside the box. Green made a lunging pass over to Shelby Baker, who was able to poke the ball inside the near post to push Berks ahead 3-0 in the 68th minute.

Both teams exchanged scoring chances back-and-forth, before the Royals found the back of the net off a long drive by Meredith D'Angelo at the 85:34 mark of the contest.
Clinging to the two-goal lead with under five minutes to go, the Berks defense held strong and allowed only a corner kick in the 88th minute.

The all-around performance by far the best of the season by the Nittany Lions. The offense outshot Scranton by an 18-9 margin, including an 11-4 count with shots on goal. The midfield play Jardine, Green, Charlotte Pizzuto, Pinel, and Lopez was top notch on all thirds of the field. The back line of Baker, Mackenzie Fredricks, Karina Raykova, and Jess Mandeville limited the passing options all game long. Melissa Martin and Gabby Crawford both provided valuable minutes off the bench to keep allow the offense to stay fresh.

Elmy finished the match with three saves, but that does not fully display how strong she was in net. The junior goalkeeper came off the back line to catch or bat away several cross attempts or corner kicks. Elmy earned her 10th win of the season in net and raised her save total to 51 on the year.

The Nittany Lions will turn around and host Bryn Athyn College on Thursday, October 26 in a NEAC contest at 7 p.m.
 
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