Royals Tally Two in the Second, Edge Eagles

HUNTINGDON, Pa.-Two second half goals doomed the Juniata women's soccer team as they fell, 2-0, to Scranton on a cloudy Saturday afternoon at Gibbel Stadium. 

Kerry Leonard (Cockeysville, Md./Marvale Prep.) had four saves in net for the Eagles. 

The teams battled in the midfield early on, with Scranton earning two corners inside the first three minutes, but Juniata cleared the danger. The Royals took the first shot of the game 10 minutes in, but it went wide.

In the 17^th minute, Aubrie Christensen (Suwanee, Ga./Manheim Township) played in a corner from the right side. Brooke Rotheram (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East) headed the ball towards the right side of the net with the keeper flat footed in the middle of the net, but the Royal defender on the right post managed to clear the ball off the line.

In the 29^th minute, a Scranton forward got to a cross in the box and headed the ball towards goal. Elizabeth Bentz (Wolf, Pa./Northeastern) managed to get her body in front of the ball before it went into the net. The teams went into the half tied at 0-0 after an even first half.

In the opening seconds of the second half, Jessica Zavadak (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) got free and ripped a shot from outside the 18 that the Royal keeper parried up, off the crossbar before the goalie corralled it.

In the 57^th Juniata had their best opportunity of the game. The Royal defender stumbled over the ball at their own 18, leaving it for Anna Kauffman (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra Area) to take towards goal. Kauffman took two dribbles and curled a shot towards the upper left corner that the Scranton keeper just managed to redirect over the crossbar.

Scranton's first goal of the game frame came when Leonard made a diving grab on a shot, hitting the ground as the ball squirted out into the net. Five minutes later, the Royals doubled their lead via a cross from the left wing that they finished first time to ice the game.

"Although we lost, it was a strong 90 minutes from us," said head coach Scott McKenzie. "We got some great opportunities and just couldn't finish them which was in part because their keeper made some strong saves. We need to bring that level of intensity Tuesday."

The Eagles will host Wilson, Tuesday at 5:00.