Box Score Box Score
SCRANTON, Pa. –Andrew Murphy's (Natick, Mass. / Natick) late first-half goal proved to be the game winner as the Susquehanna men's soccer team defeated Landmark Conference foe Scranton 1-0 on Saturday afternoon in Scranton.
The Crusaders (9-4-1, 3-2) have now won two-straight games against the Royals (8-2-3, 1-2), dating back to last fall's Landmark Conference championship game.
The team out-shot Scranton by a narrow, 11-8 edge. Murphy accounted for three of those 11 shots while David Trank (Mendham, N.J. / West Morris Mendham) added four.
Goalie Matt Salsman (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove Area) has his defensive teammates to thank for the shutout as Salsman did not have to make a save in the match. But with the clean sheet, Salsman tied assistant coach B.J. Merriam '11 with his 15th career shutout.
The first 44-plus minutes of the game went by without a goal and the game seemed destined to head into halftime knotted at zero. However, with just 26 ticks on the clock, Dean Hristopolous (West Chester, Pa. / Unionville) knocked a set piece 30 yards in to Murphy who headed it into the goal for a 1-0 game.
The score was Murphy's eighth goal of the year and 20th of his career as the senior continues his torrid pace as of late, notching seven goals in the last six matches. Hristopoulos and Murphy teamed up for a similar goal on Wednesday evening against Gettysburg (W, 2-1).
Scranton took just three shots the entire second half – none on goal – while the Crusaders took six to keep the Scranton defenders on their toes. SU's defense held the Royals without a shot for the final six minutes to preserve the 1-0 Susquehanna shutout.
The Crusaders return home to host Landmark opponent Juniata on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
