SCRANTON, PA - With two more regular-season matches and a chance for the number-one seed for the Landmark Conference Tournament in sight, the Susquehanna University field hockey team entered Saturday needing a convincing win at Scranton to help stake their claim. Senior Kari Schmidt scored the game's first two goals, both in the first quarter, as the River Hawks held their conference championship game opponent from last year scoreless through three-and-a-half quarters to take a 2-1 victory.

Susquehanna, now a perfect 8-0 in the Landmark and a 12-5 overall mark, have one more test in its way to claim the top seed, hosting Catholic on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Cardinals, who also entered Saturday 7-0 in league play, were dealt a 2-1 defeat at Wilkes. They are now 9-8 overall. 

The River Hawks got first touch to start Saturday's game, taking it down to their scoring end and receiving a penalty corner opportunity almost instantly. Lydia Hidlay sent the ball towards Mady Quigley, who fired a shot towards the right post that Schmidt masterfully deflected in past the diving Gianna Travia for the early 1-0 lead. Another penalty corner awaited Susquehanna to set the stage for goal number two. This time it was Schmidt who received the insert from Hidlay and blasted it waist high to connect with the back of the cage and a quick 2-0 advantage. Scranton goalie Travia and the Royals settled in, holding off Susquehanna from adding to its lead on a day where the River Hawks led, 12-11, in shots, with the Hawks posting up five shots on goal to Scranton's nine.

Senior goalie Ashley Derrick took everything Scranton could offer in an eight-save day as the Royals could only piece together a goal halfway through the fourth quarter to stay in the game. On a penalty corner chance Scranton's Annie Coll sent a ball high up in the air over Derrick, which hit the right post and gathered by Annie Shaw to cut the lead in half. Despite seven shots in the fourth quarter, the Royals were unable to replicate that success despite heavy scoring chances that they couldn't get on line or were thwarted by Derrick.

In all both sides were granted ten penalty corners, including seven for Scranton in the final quarter. Derrick improved to 8-4 on the season, while Schmidt regained the team lead in goals this season with nine, along with a team-best 25 points. Her career numbers now stand at 69 points on 22 goals and 25 assists.

Following Saturday Susquehanna stands as the last remaining unbeaten team in Landmark play at 8-0, with Catholic 7-1 and Scranton 6-2. The River Hawks have a chance to make history Tuesday against Catholic with not only a number-one seed on the line, but their first unbeaten Landmark Conference regular season in school history.