Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y. – The FDU-Florham women's soccer team defeated Manhattanville College 5-1 on Wednesday night for their third win in a row.

The Devils (9-8, 3-2 MAC) move into third place in the Freedom Conference thanks to a second-half flurry of goals that broke the game open.  Senior forward Samantha Messina (Landing, N.J./Roxbury) netted the deciding goal on a penalty kick, 13:21 into the second half of play.

In the first half, the Valiants (3-11-2, 0-3-2 MAC) generated most of the scoring chances, but it was the Devils who held a 1-0 lead after 45 minutes, thanks to Kelly Roche's (Haddon Twp., N.J./Haddon Twp.) first goal of the season. Roche was the recipient of a corner kick from teammate Colleen Furbeck (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert), which she promptly fired in from 18-yards out.

Manhattanville sophomore Rebecca Breve evened the score for the Valiants 3:28 into the second half, for their lone goal of the match.

Leading 2-1, Michelle Hickey (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Twp.) broke the game open, scoring two goals within 43 seconds.  Hickey's first goal came via an assist from fellow senior Jennifer DiGioia (Roxbury, N.J./Roxbury/CCM) at the 64:09 mark. Less than a minute later, Hickey broke free again, this time chipping the ball over the Manhattanville keeper's head to provide the Devils with a 4-1 lead.

Junior forward Stefanie Granato (Whippany, N.J./Whippany Park/CCM) put the icing on the cake by scoring the Devils fifth goal of the afternoon off of an assist from Hickey and Katie Parrotta (Yardville, N.J./Steinert) in the final minute of play.

The goals for Hickey were her eighth and ninth of the season.  Messina has now scored a goal in five straight games and as a result,  extends her consecutive point streak to nine straight contests.

Next up for the Devils:
FDU returns home to take on Misericordia University, who is currently tied for first in the Freedom Conference, this Friday, October 25^th at 7 p.m. The Devils will be honoring their seniors prior to the start of the game.