EDWARDSVILLE – Visiting University of Scranton broke open a scoreless game at the half notching three unanswered goals in the second half on way to a 3-0 Landmark Conference victory over the Wilkes University field hockey team Tuesday night at Schmidt Stadium.
 
Wilkes fell to 2-12 overall and 0-5 in league games following the home defeat. Scranton improved to 13-2 overall and 4-1 in Landmark play.
 
The first two quarters went scoreless with Scranton holding the advantage of play in its offensive end, but the Colonels bend-not-break defense held true thanks to eight big saves from Olivia Wickel (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) on 13 Royal shots.
 
Scranton then took the lead with 4:33 left in the third quarter when a shot from the top got deflected to the side of the cage, then passed back to the middle where Bridget Abraldes knocked it home.
 
The Royals then broke the game open with back-to-back goals at the 10:10 and 10:42 mark of the fourth quarter to seal the conference road victory.
 
Scranton out shot Wilkes 21-0 and held a 6-2 advantage in penalty corners.
 
Wickel finished with 11 saves in goal for Wilkes.
 
The Colonels continue Landmark play Saturday with a road matchup at Elizabethtown College starting at 12:00 p.m.