Field Hockey Rolls Past Scranton, Earns 4th Straight Win

Field Hockey Rolls Past Scranton, Earns 4th Straight Win

10/11/2008

SCRANTON, PA.- First-year midfielder Liz Mc Cormick (Broomhall, Pa./Country Day Sacred Heart) scored twice within a three-minute span early in the second-half to give Catholic University a 3-1 victory over the University of Scranton in Landmark Conference action Saturday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field. The win was the fourth straight for the Cardinals, now 7-4 overall and 3-0 in the Landmark Conference.

Each team successfully converted a penalty corner in the first-half to battle to a 1-1 tie at intermission.  On Scranton's first penalty corner opportunity, Scranton midfielder Corrie Szapka tapped in a rebounded shot attempt for the first goal of the afternoon.

Less than four minutes later, CUA tied it up on a perfectly-executed penalty corner.  Senior midfielder Ro Dixon (Ardmore, Pa./Country Day Sacred Heart) sent up a ball from the baseline that junior midfielder Carley Walko (Freehold, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) deflected towards first-year midfielder Erin Thomas (Seaville, N.J./Ocean City).  Thomas then drilled a shot from 12 yards out that got past Royal senior goalie Kristina Goetz.

McCormick turned the momentum in Catholic University's favor early in the second-half.  She tapped in what turned out to be the game-winning goal after Goetz made a save on a shot attempt by first-year midfielder Tracey Scanlon (North Wales, Pa./Gwynedd Mercy) in the 36th-minute.  Three minutes later, Scanlon crossed a ball from the right flank to McCormick, who drilled out a shot from 12 yards out for the game's final score.

Cardinal junior goalie Marian Cassilly (Gambrills, Md./Archbishop Spalding), finished with eight saves, including five in the second-half.   

Catholic University now holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time series with Scranton.