Center Valley, PA, (September 11, 2004) – Junior Gina Malatesta (Warminster, PA/St. Basil Academy) scored the first-ever goal in DeSales field hockey history but the Bulldogs fell just short as they lost to Alvernia College, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon.

 

        Malatesta scored with 1:40 left in the game as she took a centering pass from freshman Erica Ecklund (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) and knocked it home for the historic goal.  The Bulldogs controlled the majority of the game as they out-shot the Crusaders, 18-9, and held a 10-8 advantage in penalty corners but fell just short on the scoreboard.

 

        Alvernia scored both of its goals in the first half and had a stroke saved by senior Shavonne Hannahoe (Shoemakersville, PA/Hamburg) that would have made it 3-0.  Erin McLaughlin scored the first marker at the 7:50 mark as she took control of a rebound and knocked it past a diving Hannahoe.  Becky Macchione scored the eventual game-winner at the 15:45 mark as she took a centering pass from Linsey Treadwell and one-timed it into the cage.

 

        Hannahoe made five saves for DeSales in between the pipes and Kerry Douglass tallied seven saves for the Crusaders.