BOX SCORE

Center Valley, PA (October 19, 2011) - Senior Jonathan Balfour scored three goals and added an assist leading the #16 DeSales University men's soccer team past Misericordia University, 5-2, in a critical Freedom Conference game for DSU's 10th straight win on Wednesday evening at Mangelsdorf Field.

The Bulldogs (13-2-1, 5-0) break a team record that has stood since 1988 with their 10th straight win on the season.  Yesterday DSU broke a team-record by earning its highest national ranking at #16 in the NSCAA Top 25 poll and today DeSales learned that it has been ranked #2 in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional poll, its highest ever regional ranking.

DeSales stormed out of the gates, earning a corner kick right off the opening kick that saw Balfour find fellow senior Josh Himes' head, as Long headed the ball into the net for a 1-0 lead just 53 seconds into the contest.

That wasn't enough.

Just 5:32 later the Bulldogs made it 2-0 as junior Steve Krause scored off a rebound, stunning the Cougars (10-2-2, 2-2-1 Freedom) home crowd.

Misericordia, however, did not quit battling back to tie the game with two goals 1:12 apart from Andy Bush off an assist from Dan Pinto and Eric Kishbaugh in the 23rd and 24th minutes.

The offensive fireworks continued just 3:46 later as Balfour scored his first of three at the 27:03 mark to regain the lead and added his second goal in the 35th minute later to give the Bulldogs their two-goal lead back as the game entered the half.  Senior Sky Rimmele recorded assists on both first-half goals by Balfour.

The halftime adjustments worked as both teams tightened up its defense and after six balls found the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes, just one did in the second half, Balfour's third tally completing the hat trick in the 74th minute to provide the final tally.  Freshman Colin Sulpizio again played well making seven saves for the Bulldogs in between the pipes.

The Bulldogs also extended their Freedom Conference winning streak (including playoffs) to 12-straight wins and are now unbeaten in 14-straight in Freedom Conference play.

Rest isn't really an option however at this point as another stiff tests awaits on Saturday when DeSales travels to King's College for yet another Freedom Conference road game with game time set for 7:00 pm.