Box Score
Scranton, PA – Marywood University men's soccer team scored three first half goals on their way to a 3-1 victory over two-time defending conference champion Cabrini College in the Colonial States Athletic Conference semifinals on Thursday evening. The Pacers improve to 14-5 with the win and advance to the first CSAC Final in program history where they will visit top-seeded Neumann University on Saturday.
Marywood took a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute of play Thursday night when Brandon Ritter (Wantage, NJ) scored from close range after running onto a free kick serviced by Ryan Jones (Holland, PA). The Pacers doubled their advantage just under five minutes later when Lee Powers (Mill Hall, PA) dribbled to the baseline and drove a low cross across that goal mouth that CSAC Rookie of the Year Christian Lawlor (Hillsdale, NJ) drilled home for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.
Lawlor would extend Marywood's lead to three in the 40th minute. Jones played a cross into Cabrini's box that the Lawlor flicked past Cavalier goalkeeper Eric Nowicki. Lawlor's 11th tally of the year ties him atop the Pacers' record for goals in a season while Jones picked up his team-leading 12th assist of the season.
Marywood held a commanding 12-1 advantage in shots in the opening half and goalkeeper Shane Quinn (Clarks Summit, PA) kept Cabrini off the board by making a fine save off a headed shot following a corner kick.
The Cavaliers would not go down without a fight though and put the Pacers' defense under much more pressure in the second half, holding an 8-5 edge in shots in the period. Troy Allen put Cabrini on the board in the 59th minute by blasting home a free kick from just outside the Marywood penalty area, but it was the only time on the night that the visitors were able to break past the Pacers' defense and Quinn.
Marywood held a 17-9 advantage in shots for the game while Cabrini had eight corner kicks to four for the Pacers. Quinn made five saves to pick up the win and Nowicki turned aside five Marywood shots for Cabrini, who ends their season with a 9-10-1 record.
The Pacers will make their first-ever appearance in the CSAC Final on Saturday when they will travel to Aston, PA to take on top-seeded Neumann University, a 2-0 winner over Centenary College in Thursday's other semifinals, at a time to be determined. The Knights defeated the Pacers 3-1 on October 23rd in Aston. The winner of Saturday's game earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
