Scranton Bounces Back

Defeats Elmira, moves to 3-1 on the Season

SCRANTON, PA (3/9/08) — The University of Scranton moved to 3-1 for the first time since 1997 and for only the third time in school history by defeating Elmira College, 18-3, Sunday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field. Freshman attacker Kyle Frank (Glen Arm, Md./Boys’ Latin) paced the Royals with six goals and two assists and fellow freshman attacker Stephen Bruestle (Holland, Pa./Archbishop Wood) had four goals and an assist as the Royals snapped a four-game series losing streak and posted their first win over the Soaring Eagles since a 9-8 decision on March 19, 2003, also at Fitzpatrick Field.

Scranton, which held a 39-31 advantage in shots and a 46-38 margin in ground balls, also received a goal and five assists from junior attacker Thomas Kornobis (Merrick, N.Y./W.C. Mepham), a goal and an assist from freshmen J.P. Barton (N. Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph Metuchen) and Keenan Dowd (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Catholic), and a goal each from junior Nick Youngstrom (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal), sophomores Phil Lindner (Parlin, N.J./St. Joseph Metuchen) and Colin Donato (Marlton, N.J./Camden Catholic), and freshmen Christian Dugan (Avon, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) and Tim Golder (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville).

Elmira, now 1-1, was led by senior attacker Mike Szpiech (Hamilton, Ontario/Albany Academy) with a goal and two assists and sophomore attacker Mike Bialick (Lebanon, N.J./Westfield) and senior attacker Sean Slater (Ashland, Mass./Ashland) contributed a goal apiece. The Royals kept the Soaring Eagles on defense throughout much of the afternoon, as freshman midfielder Patrick Cefalu (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) did his part by winning 16 of 21 face-offs. Behind two goals by Frank, Scranton jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first period, settled for a 7-2 advantage by intermission, and broke the game open with six goals, including two by Bruestle, in the third period.

The Royals also took advantage of eight penalties assessed against Elmira by converted four of six extra-man opportunities in goals. Scranton’s 18 goals is its highest output most since scoring 19 against Moravian on April 17, 2004. In addition, 14 of the Royals’ 18 goals today were scored by freshmen. All three freshman goalies saw action for Scranton. Starter Jeremy Dowiak (Hackettstown, N.J./West Morris) made nine saves in 31 minutes before giving way to Matthew DiFede (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge), who stopped four shots and did not allow a goal in 24 minutes. Adam Gershowitz (Owings Mills, Md./Owings Mills) played the final four minutes and made two saves. In addition, Dowiak lowered his goals against average to 7.61.

Scranton started 3-1 under then head coach John Fayocavitz in 1996 and 1997. The Royals finished 8-4 in 1996 and 6-8 in 1997. Today’s win was also the 10th for second-year head coach Kevin Dugan at Scranton and his 23rd in four seasons as a head coach on the collegiate level. The Royals will open their Landmark Conference schedule this Saturday, March 15, against the Crusaders of Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, beginning at 1:00 p.m.