2013 Season Photo Gallery
2012 Season Photo Gallery

Purchase, NY (October 19, 2013) – Sophomore Meryah Harding scored her ninth goal of the season 6:35 into the first overtime period leading the DeSales University field hockey team to a 3-2 comeback win at Manhattanville College and pushing the Bulldogs into a three-way tie for first place on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (7-7, 3-1 Freedom) have now won three straight in the Freedom Conference after being picked to finish last in the pre-season poll.  It is DSU's first win on the road in Freedom Conference play since the 2008 season, which just so happened to also be a 3-2 win at Manhattanville on October 22, 2008.

DeSales has three more Freedom Conference games left as today's win inches the Bulldogs that much closer to clinching its second-ever playoff berth with the only other post-season appearance coming in 2007 when the Bulldogs finished fourth.

MVC (9-7, 2-2 Freedom) opened the scoring in the 12th minute on Saturday as Kirsten Savage scored on a shot just inside the arc, but the Bulldogs needed just 1:36 to tie the game at one when freshman Alexa Beaumont scored her sixth goal of the season on an assist from junior Alison Malatesta at 12:54.

The game remained tied into the half with the Valiants out-shooting the Bulldogs, 10-7, as both teams had six penalty corners.

Manhattanville re-took the lead just 3:35 into the second-half when Amanda DeChent scored unassisted, her 25th goal of the season and that lead stood until almost the very end when DeSales made a gutty comeback.

With just under two minutes remaining DSU threatened inside the arc as a shot squirted across the goalmouth and was cleared away from the cage as MVC's goalie and another defender laid on the ground in a desperation clear but junior Alyssa Malatesta was there on the back post and took control of the clear attempt, firing a shot into the right side of the cage, tying the game with just 1:50 left to play.

The game advanced to overtime after the Bulldogs successfully cleared a few Manhattanville penalty corners with under a minute left.  DSU had two penalty corners awarded in the overtime period and on the second; Harding took the service from Alyssa Malatesta, dribbled left and scored low to the far right side igniting a second straight overtime celebration for the Bulldogs 6:35 into the first overtime period.

MVC finished the game out-shooting DeSales, 18-16, and had a slim 14-12 edge in penalty corners as the offensive chances were about even for both teams.  Sophomore Becky Rasmuson was outstanding in goal making nine saves and senior Sam Szathmary recorded a defensive save in the win.

DSU returns to action on Wednesday, October 23rd when they host Misericordia University who are tied with the Bulldogs for first-place in the Freedom standings beginning at 3:30 pm.