2013 Season Photo Gallery
Center Valley, PA (October 2, 2013) – Senior
Ariel Merkt was instant offense on Wednesday providing an offensive spark in each half with one goal and one assist helping the DeSales University women's soccer team defeat local rival Muhlenberg College, 2-1, in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon.
The Mules (4-5-1) took an early 1-0 lead when
Abby Lazofsky scored on a header off a crossing pass from
Nicole Karsch just 10:15 into the game and MC controlled play early as DeSales (5-3-2) didn't attempt its first shot until the 20th minute.
In the 25th minute DSU made its first substitution and in came Merkt who about five minutes later sent a long pass over the top of the Mule defense where senior
Brady Walsh outraced a defender to the ball and slid a low shot just under the charging Mule keeper and inside the right post for her fifth goal of the season tying the game at one.
The game remained tied thru the half as each team attempted five shots in the opening 45 minutes.
The second-half started slow as just three shots were attempted over the first 20 minutes and the Bulldogs didn't attempt its first shot till the 70th minute.
Again entered Merkt who this time just over six minutes after entering took a short pass outside the box on the right side from senior
Ashley Koren and took a shot from about 25-30 yards out that may have started out as more of a crossing pass to the back post. The ball kept drifting to that back post and over the Muhlenberg keeper's head, colliding with the post and ricocheted into the back of the net for her first goal of the season and 2-1 lead for the Bulldogs.
Muhlenberg had a golden opportunity just two minutes later to tie the game but a shot from point blank range from Karsch was just high and the Bulldog defense did the rest, thwarting any serious challenges at the tying marker over the final 15 minutes.
The win is the first-ever over Muhlenberg in just the third career meeting between the two teams. It also means that DeSales has now swept its local rivals, Moravian and Muhlenberg, beating both teams for the first time in team history this season.
DSU returns to action on Saturday as the Bulldogs begin Freedom Conference play with an important road test to start the conference slate at Manhattanville College beginning at 2:30 pm.
