Purchase, NY (October 14, 2006) – The DeSales University field hockey team suffered a setback in its quest for a Freedom Conference playoff spot on Saturday afternoon falling to Manhattanville College, 3-2, in a Freedom Conference game.

 

        The loss drops the Bulldogs to 9-6 overall and 2-3 in the Freedom, while the win is the first of the season for Manhattanville who improves to 1-13 overall and 1-4 in the Freedom.  DSU remains alive in the playoff hunt with two games remaining at King’s College and vs. Wilkes University needing at least one win and some other scenarios to fall into place.

 

        After the Valiants opened up a 1-0 lead just 2:58 into the game, DSU scored the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead early in the second half.  Freshman Meghan Iudicello (Nazareth, PA/Pen Argyl) tied the game at one off an assist from sophomore Amanda Deal (Macungie, PA/Whitehall) at 32:20 and Deal gave DSU the one goal lead at 46:54 off a feed from senior Bethany Hepner (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh).

 

        The Bulldogs continued to lead with under 10 minutes left in the game before MC mounted its come back to earn the win.  Kirsten Spelman scored at 61:48 to tie the game and Alissa Tyghter tallied the game-winner with just 1:54 left to play to spoil DSU’s first trip to Manhattanville.

 

        DSU held a 15-12 edge in shots, while the Valiants enjoyed a 14-13 lead in penalty corners.  Freshman Molly Pope (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) made three saves for DeSales, while Lauren Gagnon had 13 stops for Manhattanville.