MADISON, NJ – The Wilkes University women's soccer squad advanced to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom semifinals from the play-in game Tuesday night against #4 FDU-Florham.
 
Senior Emily Bidelspach (Myerstown, PA/ELCO) struck just before the half at 43:00, taking advantage of a one-on-one situation with help from fellow senior Tatiana Mancera (Miami, FL/Archimedean Upper Conservatory) to send the Colonels into the break with a lead.  The Devil answered with a crosser from the right side at 59:30 to even the score.  Neither team was able to break the tie until the final 10 minutes of the game, where senior Victoria Burkhart (Mount Pocono, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) ripped a shot from 25 yards out after a pass from first year Madison Straub (Franklin, NJ/Franklin) to send the Colonels home with a playoff victory.
 
Sophomore Hannah Landis (Red Hill, PA/Upper Perkiomen) earned the victory in goal, recording six saves.  The Devils and Colonels were a virtual dead heat on shots on goal, with FDU-Florham having the edge 7-6.
 
The Colonels look to extend their season as they travel to Dallas, Pa. to face top-seeded Misericordia on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.  The Cougars and Colonels battled earlier this year at Misericordia, where the Colonels fell 9-2.