Wilkes-Barre, PA (October 4, 2014) – Sophomore Eve Barna scored in the 79^th minute breaking a scoreless tie and senior Michelle Churchman made five saves leading the DeSales University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over Wilkes University in the Freedom Conference season opener for both teams on Saturday night.
 
The win is the first since 2008 and just the second all-time for the Bulldogs (4-5-3, 1-0 Freedom) over Wilkes (7-5, 0-1 Freedom), who had a 16-1-1 record vs. DeSales entering play today.
 
After a scoreless first-half that saw DeSales attempt just one shot, the Bulldogs turned up the pressure in the second-half and seemed to have fresher legs thanks to its depth on the bench.  DSU almost scored just 11 minutes into the second-half when freshman Angelica Bertola fired a shot towards the net that the Wilkes keeper snatched out of mid-air.
 
The game-winner came in the 79^th minute when sophomore Jess Wetherhold slipped a pass into the box on the right side where Barna ran into it and hit a shot inside the left post past the Lady Colonels keeper.  It was the first goal of her career.
 
The Bulldogs weathered the storm from there as Wilkes pushed up on offense but was never able to get one past Churchman who made one critical save in the 84^th minute going to her knees to snare a low blast.  It is Churchman's fifth shutout of the season, two shy of tying the single-season mark, and the 10^th of her career.
 
The Bulldogs are now off for a week, returning to action next Saturday when they host King's College in another important Freedom Conference game beginning at 3:00 pm.