Center Valley, PA, (September 27, 2005) – Just hours after finding out that they were ranked among the top 25 nationally for the first time in school history, the DeSales University men’s soccer team found a way to keep its winning streak alive with a hard fought 2-1 win over Freedom Conference foe Delaware Valley College in overtime on Tuesday afternoon.
The Bulldogs (7-1, 2-0 Freedom) entered the game ranked 22nd in the NSCAA/adidas NCAA Division III national rankings after its back-to-back upsets of national powers Drew University and Muhlenberg College. DSU, also ranked third in the Mid-Atlantic Region, had never been ranked higher than fifth in the region.
Despite all the rankings the Aggies (0-8-1, 0-2 Freedom) came to Center Valley winless this season but with upset on their minds and they gave the Bulldogs all they bargained for. With the game scoreless mid-way through the second-half, DSU struck first as freshman Dustin Sturm (North Cape May, NJ/Lower Cape May), returning for his first game following an injury, made his presence felt with an unassisted goal at the 69:22 mark, his second of the season.
DeSales seemed to have the game comfortably in hand before DVC’s Tarweh Witherspoon streaked thru a surprised Bulldog defense and scored as his shot snuck just past sophomore Rusty Riedmiller’s (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) hand after deflecting off a Bulldog defender’s foot. The goal was Witherspoon’s first and came with just 2:22 left on the clock.
The Bulldogs, who out-shot the Aggies 32-8 in the game, took control of the game in the overtime period and junior Randy Sturm (North Cape May, NJ/Lower Cape May) gained control of a ball at the top of the box, dodged a few defenders and scored his eighth goal of the season to end the game and secure DeSales its fifth straight win. Sturm’s game-winner came just 4:13 into the first overtime period.
The game did not lack its share of drama in the first half as the Aggies goalkeeper kept the game scoreless by saving a penalty kick mid-way thru the opening period. Nick D’Amato finished with 13 saves and was also aided by a fellow defender who kicked out a shot early in the first half that had caught D’Amato out of his net and was headed for the back of the goal.
Riedmiller finished with three saves for the Bulldogs as he saw his scoreless streak end at 366:38 straight minutes without allowing a goal. That streak snaps the old school-record of 318:07 set during the 2001 season.
The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday as they host Gwynedd-Mercy College in a non-conference game beginning at 4:00 pm.
