Scranton, PA (November 4, 2006) – Sophomore Andrew Marshall (Greene, NY/Greene Central) scored the only goal of the game to lead the DeSales University men’s soccer team to its second straight Freedom Conference championship and back to the NCAA Tournament with a 1-0 win over The University of Scranton at Fitzpatrick Field on a chilly Saturday afternoon.
Marshall scored the game-winner at 58:49 when he one-timed a blocked shot off the foot of senior Randy Sturm (North Cape May, NJ/Lower Cape May) into the back corner of the net. Sturm took a shot from the middle of the box that was deflected to the right corner and Marshall was in the right position to receive the deflection and hit a perfect shot just past the Royal keeper and into the back corner of the net. The goal was Marshall’s first of the season and the second of his career.
Scranton held a 23-12 advantage in shots and both teams had two corner kicks. Junior Rusty Riedmiller (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) was once again spectacular in between the pipes for the Bulldogs as he made six stops to record his second shutout of the playoffs. In two years, Riedmiller has not allowed a goal in four Freedom Conference playoff games.
Sturm was named the Freedom Conference Playoffs Most Valuable Player after tallying three goals and one assist in the two playoff games. He now has 27 goals and 10 assists for 64 points this season.
The win advances the Bulldogs (13-4-3 overall) to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. The tournament field will be announced on Monday morning with details about whom and when DSU will play posted on the web site as soon as the information is received. DSU could be playing its first tournament game as early as Wednesday, November 8th or as late as Friday, November 10th depending on how the NCAA seeds all 57 participants in the field.
The Bulldogs were sent to Virginia Beach, VA (Virginia Wesleyan College) last season to face New Jersey City University in the opening round falling to NJCU, 3-0.
