Bulldogs Ousted from Freedom Playoffs with 2-1 Loss to Wilkes

Senior Dana Eustace netted her 35th career goal in the loss to Wilkes on Monday.

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Center Valley, PA (November 3, 2008) – The DeSales University women's soccer team saw its Freedom Conference playoff run come to an end with a 2-1 loss to Wilkes University in the opening round of the post-season on Monday afternoon.

The Bulldogs fall to 8-9-1 overall with the loss, while the Colonels improve to 10-9-1 overall and move onto to play top seeded, Eastern University, in the semifinals on Wednesday at 1:00 pm.

Wilkes struck first on Monday taking a 1-0 lead at the 28:09 mark when sophomore Taryn Hallowell scored her 14^th goal of the season on a shot from about 25 yards out in the right corner that sailed off the goalkeeper's hand and into the far corner of the net.

The rest of the first half was back-and-forth with each team creating chances on the offensive end but never finding the back of the net as the game went into halftime with the Colonels holding a 1-0 lead.

In the second half, DSU came out strong as senior Dana Eustace (Highland Lakes, NJ/Vernon Township) had several chances to net the tying goal. The first came around the 58^th minute when a pass thru the defense saw Eustace racing towards the ball with the keeper charging and her left-footed shot just went wide of the net allowing Wilkes to hold the one-goal lead.

Eustace took advantage of the next opportunity. Junior Emily LaDuke (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) took control of the ball just outside the box in the middle of the field and passed backwards to senior Nicole Pietrobon (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) who immediately sent a pass over the Colonel defense where Eustace beat the keeper to the ball and flicked it past for her 11^th goal of the year tying the game.

With the game tied both teams went back-and-forth once again with Wilkes earning a corner kick as the clock pushed into the 73^rd minute. Jessica Gannon served the ball to Hallowell in the front of the box unmarked. Hallowell took a shot that seemed headed straight for the DSU keeper but sophomore Brittany Ely stepped in front of the keeper before the ball got to her and re-directed a shot up and over the keeper's head into the net giving WU a 2-1 lead and eventually the win.

Wilkes finished the game holding a 14-9 edge in shots and a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks. The playoff appearance was the third for the Bulldogs in their 13-year history as they fall to 0-3 all-time in the post-season. DSU also made the playoffs in 2001 and 2006.

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