Stephens Powers Scranton To Landmark Crown

SCRANTON, Pa. - Sophomore forward Beth Stephens (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) scored a season-high three goals, including two during a critical junction in the second-half, to lift The University of Scranton past Moravian College, 4-2, in the first-ever Landmark Conference championship match Saturday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.

Senior goalie Jackie Colley (North Caldwell, N.J./West Essex) made six saves, including three from point-blank range, and freshman midfielder Chelsea Paskman (Chalfont, Pa./Central Bucks South) gave the Royals a early 1-0 lead with a goal in the opening two minutes of play as Scranton improved to 9-9-2 overall. The loss dropped Moravian to 15-5-1.

Paskman's goal, her fifth of the season, was set up by senior back Jessica Turrin (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South), who drilled a direct kick from the mid-field area after the Greyhounds were called for an infraction. Paskman headed in the ball into the right corner of the goal to give Scranton a lead it would never relinquish.

The Royals increased their lead to 2-0 in the 17th minute, when sophomore midfielder Emily MacPhee (Holland, Pa./Council Rock) controlled a ball on the right sideline and crossed it to senior midfielder Kaitlin Baker (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) in front of the Greyhound goal. Baker deflected towards a wide-open Stephens, who tapped it in from 10-yards out for a goal.

Trailing 2-0 at intermission, Moravian came out strong in the second-half and immediately cut the deficit to 2-1 on a goal by sophomore forward Alessandra Valdetara (Butler, N.J./Butler), who blasted in a shot from 16 yards out on a scramble in front of the Royal goal on a corner kick served up by Allison Solomita (Chatham, N.J./Chatham).

Five minutes later, Stephens took over and extended Scranton's lead to 3-1 by tapping in shot off a deflection of a previous shot attempt by sophomore midfielder Erin Unterstein (Lincroft, N.J./Middletown South). On Moravian's next possession, freshman midfielder Shannon McEvoy (Lafayette, N.J./High Point) got behind the Royal defense and drilled a shot from 8 yards out that Colley knocked away.

Stephens then extended Scranton's lead to 4-1 with her team-leading 10th goal of the season. She blasted a shot from 16 yards out on a ball served over the top of the Greyhound defense by freshman back Emily Boyce (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial).

In the 77th minute, Colley made another key save when she blocked a shot from 10 yards out by Moravian's Jill Newswanger. After the Greyhounds were awarded a corner kick, Scranton was called for an infraction and Moravian was awarded a penalty kick. Junior forward Tracy Fitzpatrick (Wantage, N.J./High Point Regional), the Landmark Conference offensive player of the year, converted the kick for her team-leading 14th of the season to set the final score.

In the first-half, Fitzpatrick got behind the Royal defense and had a one-on-one situation against Colley. She drilled a shot from 17 yards out that Colley was able to deflect over the crossbar to thwart a Greyhound scoring opportunity.

Scranton's title was its 16th conference championship in school history. The Royals captured 15 Middle Atlantic/Freedom Conference titles under the guidance of Joe Bochicchio, who led Scranton to 298 victories and 11 NCAA tournament appearances prior to his death in July. This past season, director of athletics Toby Lovecchio served as interim head coach.

The Landmark Conference is in its first season of existence and does not have an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championships. The Royals will find out Monday whether or not its conference title is good enough to earn them a Pool B bid to the NCAA tournament field.