PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College defense held the high-scoring DeSales University offense largely in check for the first 60 minutes, but the Bulldogs converted three times in the second half to break open a 4-0 victory in MAC Freedom women's soccer action on Tuesday evening at GoValiants.com Field.
DeSales (7-5-0, 2-1-0 MAC Freedom) controlled possession for much of the night against Manhattanville (3-6-1, 0-3-0 MAC Freedom), but the Valiant defense did well to limit the Bulldogs' chances in the opening half. Sophomore
Bella Beltrami (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) made a pair of saves in the opening 45 minutes, including a sprawling denial of the conference's leading scorer, Angelica Bertola, in the 21st minute.
DeSales broke through in the 39th minute on Caroline Nealon's first goal of the season, as she put home a through ball from Josie Davis-Allen, and the visitors went into halftime with that 1-0 lead. The shots were only 5-3 in favor of DeSales in the half, with both keepers making two saves.
The Bulldogs added to their lead in the 60th minute on Sydney Amato's third goal of the year, and then added goals from Rachel Medlar and Bertola to complete the scoring.
DeSales finished the night with a 15-6 edge in shots. Beltrami made four saves while DeSales keeper Lia Gaccione turned aside five shots for the visitors in the win.
Manhattanville will return to action on Saturday, when the Valiants travel to #19/23 Misericordia University for another MAC Freedom matchup beginning at 5 p.m.
