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Center Valley, PA (October 27, 2012) – The DeSales University women's soccer was just 11.4 seconds away from earning its fourth career Freedom Conference playoff appearance but two goals over the final 3:20 of regulation including the game tying goal with 11.4 seconds left and the game-winner with 3.7 seconds left in the first overtime gave FDU-Florham a 3-2 win and the fourth spot in the Freedom Conference playoffs.

The Bulldogs (7-9-1, 2-5 Freedom) dominated the first half of play, out-shooting FDU-Florham, 7-5, and took a 1-0 lead at 21:25 when junior Lydia Younger scored her second goal of the season off a pass from junior Melissa Pugliese.  The Devils never really threatened the goal in the first 45 minutes as senior Alex Bastinelli needed just one save to keep FDU off the scoreboard.

DSU got its insurance goal at 60:35 when junior Ashley Koren took control of the ball in the box off an FDU defender and scored inside the far post for her fifth tally of the season.

FDU began to push its offense up, out-shooting, DSU 9-2 in the second half, but with under four minutes left, still had not scored despite being awarded a PK mid-way thru the half that was saved by a diving stop from Bastinelli.

With just under 3:30 left, the Devils broke thru and gained some life as Michelle Hickey took a long pass over the top and beat Bastinelli high.

With under a minute left FDU got the game tying goal.  Younger attempted to clear a thru ball on the left side, but her clear hit into a charging FDU player, who collected the carom and sent a high crossing pass into the box that sailed over everyone's head except Samantha Messina who was waiting on the back post just inside the box unmarked.  Messina took a touch and fired a laser into the back of the net tying the game with just 11.4 seconds left.

FDU entered OT knowing it only needed a tie to earn the fourth playoff spot, while the Bulldogs needed a win.  DSU had the first two shots of overtime including an excellent chance to win the game by freshman Jamie Barna midway thru but she was one step away from getting her strong foot on the ball and an off-balance shot was saved the Devil keeper.

With under 30 ticks left, FDU got a breakaway opportunity in which Messina beat two DSU defenders and dumped the ball off to Claire Donohue who was all alone in the box 1-v-1 with Bastinelli and this time beat her to the right side after Bastinelli had gotten the best of Donohue earlier in the second half on the PK attempt ending the game with just 3.7 seconds left in the first overtime.