Center Valley, PA (October 22, 2014) – Senior Alison Malatesta dished out four assists leading the DeSales University field hockey team past Manhattanville College, 5-0, in Freedom Conference action on a rainy Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Bulldogs (10-6, 4-1 Freedom) keep pace with FDU-Florham and Misericordia University, who also won on Wednesday to stay in a three-way tie for first place with two games remaining for each team in the Freedom Conference schedule.  DSU travels to FDU-Florham on Saturday.
 
DSU ties the single-season record for wins, earning its 10^th victory, and breaks the team record for shutouts in a season with five.  Junior Becky Rasmuson also breaks the individual single-season record for shutouts recording her fifth as she made eight saves in the win.
 
The Bulldogs wasted no time taking the lead as freshman Tess Luzi scored her fifth goal of the year and her first of two goals on the afternoon off a pass from Malatesta just 2:35 into the game.
 
Junior Jesse Marshall made it 2-0 just 3:47 later off another feed from Malatesta and junior Meryah Harding extended the lead to three at 16:08 off yet another assist from Malatesta.
 
Sophomore Nicola McDermott gave DeSales a 4-0 lead that extended into the half at 23:05, this time off an assist from Marshall.
 
The Bulldogs cruised in the second-half holding off all Valiant rallies and added one more goal as Luzi scored her second off another feed from Malatesta at 53:03.
 
The four assists for Malatesta tie the single-game record for assists in a game accomplished twice by Jen Pulcini.
 
DeSales out-shot Manhattanville, 26-19, while the Valiants had a 20-13 edge in penalty corners.
 
The Bulldogs will travel to FDU-Florham on Saturday looking to stay atop the Freedom Conference standings with game time set for 1:00 pm.