CENTER VALLEY, PA – DeSales University erased an early one goal deficit scoring three straight times over the final 45 minutes of play to secure a crucial 3-1 victory over Wilkes University Saturday afternoon.
 
Wilkes dropped to 8-8 overall and 4-2 in MAC Freedom games following the road defeat. DeSales improved to 8-7 overall and 5-1 in league contests. Wilkes now trails DeSales by one game, standing in third place entering the final game of the conference season next week.
 
Wilkes' Zoe Stepanski (Dallas, PA/Dallas) opened the scoring for the Colonels tipping in a shot off a corner from Lauren Shiplett (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood) at the 25:04 mark of the first half. Four minutes later Suzanne Polashock tied the game at one when she touched in a shot off a re-direction in front of Colonels keeper Dallas Kendra (Mountaintop, PA/Crestwood).
 
Christine Hansen gave DeSales a 2-1 lead just before the half ended scoring off a pass to the middle of the circle from Becky Barley beating Kendra inside the right post.
 
The teams went scoreless over the first 29 minutes of the second half before Hannah Williams provided the insurance goal with under four minutes remaining when she punched home a rebound off an initial first shot that Kendra saved.
 
DeSales held an advantage in shots (21-4) and penalty corners (11-2) in the contest. Kendra finished with six saves in net for Wilkes.
 
Wilkes closes out the regular season Wednesday traveling to local rival Misericordia University for both teams' MAC Freedom finale at 7:00 p.m. in Dallas, Pa.