BOX SCORE
Wilkes-Barre, PA (October 25, 2007) – The DeSales University field hockey team started slowly and were unable to recover late falling to Wilkes University, 4-2, in a Freedom Conference game on Thursday afternoon.
The loss means the Bulldogs (7-10, 2-3 Freedom) will need to win on Saturday in its regular season finale to qualify for the Freedom Conference playoffs next week and for the first time in its history. Several different playoff scenarios still exist and after working out nearly all of them unofficially the Bulldogs would earn the fourth and final spot with a win and would be left on the outside looking in with a loss regardless of the outcome of the other Freedom Conference games on Saturday. All of these playoff scenarios will be confirmed with the conference office on Friday and are unofficial right now.
In the game this afternoon, the Colonels (8-9, 3-2 Freedom) took complete control of the game in the first half out-shooting DeSales 11-3 and scoring three times to open up a 3-0 halftime lead.
The second half was the complete opposite as DeSales out-shot Wilkes, 11-3, but the Bulldogs only mustered two goals, one coming with just three seconds left and WU scored on one its three shots to provide the final 4-2 margin and hold off DSU.
Scoring for DeSales was senior Ashley Sparango (Salfordville, PA/Souderton) at the 59:25 mark off an assist from freshman Kelsey Strowhouer (Wilmington, DE/Brandywine) and freshman Jamie Matthews (Gilbertsville, PA/Boyertown) at the 69:57 mark off a feed from sophomore Meghan Iudicello (Nazareth, PA/Pen Argyl).
Both teams had 14 shots in the game and DeSales held a 16-5 edge in penalty corners but it was not enough in the loss. Sophomore Molly Pope (Elkridge, MD/Long Reach) had seven saves for the Bulldogs.
DSU will host Manhattanville College in the regular season finale on Saturday, October 27th at 1:00 pm needing a win to earn the fourth and final Freedom Conference playoff spot.
