SCRANTON, Pa. — The Catholic University field hockey team battled Scranton to the end, dropping a tight affair to open Landmark Conference play on Saturday afternoon.

The Cardinals pushed the Royals, who entered the contest 5-0, until the final whistle, but ultimately fell just short.

Liv Canterino assisted sophomore Niki Micciche on Catholic's lone goal, which cut Scranton's lead in half and applied serious pressure with 4:32 remaining in the game. The Cardinals couldn't muster another effort toward goal, though, and succumbed 2-1.

Neither team could find the breakthrough in the opening 30 minutes, as the sides entered halftime in a 0-0 stalemate. Scranton outshot Catholic 10-1 in the first half, but freshman goalkeeper Abigail Kearney made four saves to keep the match scoreless, denying Katie Redding twice within the space of a minute late in the second quarter.

Redding wouldn't be denied, however, and scored nine minutes into the third stanza to break the duct. Scranton doubled its lead on its next shot less than three minutes later, when Redding beat Kearney again.

The Cardinals gave it all they had in the fourth quarter, outshooting the Royals 5-1 in the period and earning three penalty corners while conceding none.

The contest proved to be very physical, with a total of six green cards and two yellow cards split evenly between the two teams.

Catholic will return home to face Salisbury in its next game. The Cardinals will face the Sea Gulls of Salisbury on Wednesday at 6 p.m.