Balanced Offense Leads Scranton To Second Victory

SCRANTON, Pa. - The University of Scranton scored four goals on extra-man opportunities to build up a 9-1 halftime lead and cruised to a 14-4 victory over Tri-State University in non-conference action Wednesday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.

Freshman J.P. Barton (N. Brunswick, N.J./St. Joseph Metuchen) led the Royals, now 2-1, with three goals and an assist and junior Nick Youngstrom (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) and freshmen Christian Dugan (Avon, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy), Kyle Frank (Glen Arm, Md./Boys' Latin) and Sean Coleman (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) added two goals apiece.

Scranton, which held a 37-27 advantage in shots and a 38-31 margin in ground balls, also received a goal and four assists from junior Thomas Kornobis (Merrick, N.Y./W.C. Mepham) and freshmen goalies Jeremy Dowiak (Hackettstown, N.J./West Morris), Matthew DiFede (Commack, N.Y./Hauppauge) and Adam Gershowitz (Owings Mills, Md./Owings Mills) combined for 13 saves.

Freshman Dylan Weber (Lake Zurich, Ill/Lake Zurich) led the Thunder, now 0-2 in its first season of intercollegiate competition, with a goal and an assist and sophomore Kyle Mates (Noblesville, Ind./Cathedral) and freshmen Charlie Semaan (Commerce Township, Mich./St. Mary's Preparatory) and JJ Griesinger (Apple Valley, Minn./Holy Angels) chipped in a goal apiece. Freshman goalie Alex Gregg (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsville) finished with a game-high 13 saves.

The Thunder paid dearly for committing five infractions in the first period. Scranton turned two of those opportunities into goals by Barton and Frank en route to opening up a 5-1 lead. The Royals extended their lead to eight in the second period on extra-man goals by Youngstrom and Kornobis and goals by Dugan and Frank.

Scranton's 2-1 start is its best since 2001. Kornobis currently leads the Royals in scoring with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points and is followed by Youngstrom (8 goals, 3 assists) and Frank (6 goals and 5 assists) with 11 points.

Dowiak's six saves today gives him 27 for the season.

The Royals will open a four-game road trip this Saturday, March 8, against the Soaring Eagles of Elmira College in Elmira, New York, beginning at 1:00 p.m.