Center Valley, PA (October 21, 2015) – Junior Rachel Shive scored three goals leading the DeSales University women's soccer team past Delaware Valley University, 6-1, clinching a spot in the MAC Freedom post-season tournament in two weeks on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Bulldogs (11-4, 5-0 MAC Freedom) have not only clinched a spot in the MAC Freedom Tournament but have also clinched at least one home playoff game with the win as DSU can't finish lower than second in the standings with two games remaining.  It is DeSales' fifth overall and second consecutive appearance in the conference post-season.  The 11 wins are also now just one shy of tying the mark for most wins in a season set at 12 in 2001.
 
DSU did most of its scoring early and often opening up a 4-0 lead just 8:43 into the game.  Senior Jamie Barna got it started as sophomore Angelica Bertola got the rebound of her own shot and found Barna on the far post for the game's first goal just 1:05 into the contest.
 
Bertola then made it 2-0 at the 5:52 mark when Shive sent a nice pass thru the Aggie (3-11-2, 0-4-1 MAC Freedom) defense freeing Bertola for a 1-v-1 with the keeper.
 
After that it was the junior Jess Wetherhold and Shive show as the two connected on three consecutive goals giving DSU a 5-0 lead.  The first game at the eight minute mark when junior Eve Barna found Wetherhold in the middle of the field as she sent a long pass to Shive who beat the Aggie keeper.
 
Just 43 seconds later the combo struck again as Wetherhold slotted a pass freeing Shive in the open field and at 18:11 Wetherhold found Shive about 35 yards out as she turned quickly with the pass and out-raced the Aggie defense for her third marker of the game and 12^th of the season.
 
The three consecutive goals by Shive broke the team record for fastest three consecutive goals scored by the same player, happening in 10 minutes and 11 seconds, 56 seconds faster than the previous mark held by Rachel Emmons.  Shive's first two came in a span of 43 seconds, the second fastest in team history.
 
The Bulldogs finished their scoring in the 27^th minute when freshman Sydney Gandy scored her fourth tally of the year taking a pass from sophomore Gabby Lucchese down the right side before beating the keeper.
 
DVU got on the board with just 1:44 left in the game after two Bulldog defenders fell down, Keri Helmrich took a pass and raced down the right sideline beating Hoats inside the far post to prevent the shutout.  That goal ended Hoats' and DSU's shutout streak at 549:21, both an individual and team record.
 
DSU out-shot Delaware Valley, 29-3, for the game and had a 8-0 advantage in corner kicks.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday when they host Wilkes University in another important MAC Freedom game beginning at Noon.