CENTER VALLEY Pa. – The FDU-Florham field hockey team solidified its spot atop the MAC Freedom standings by blanking DeSales University 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.

The Devils (12-5, 5-1 MAC Freedom) controlled the tempo and outshot the Bulldogs (3-14, 0-6) 22-2 in the contest and held them without a single shot on cage.

In the 17^th minute, Erin O'Connell opened the scoring by securing a loose ball on a failed clear attempt by the Bulldogs defense and swiftly gave the Devils a 1-0 lead by beating the goalkeeper. The junior back, who recently became the program's all-time leader in defensive saves, displayed her offensive prowess with her third goal of the campaign.

Despite 14 shots, five on cage, the Devils were unable to score on Bulldogs netminder Savanna Lacek again in the half and took that one-goal edge into the break. Lacek finished with seven saves in the loss.

With the offense surging, it was only a matter of time before the Devils broke through again and just 56 seconds into the second stanza they added another goal. Junior midfielder Alicia Theoret broke into the
Bulldogs' offensive zone and sent a centering pass to Alicia Grotyohann, who promptly finished off her sixth goal of the season. After scoring three goals last season, the senior forward Grotyohann now has a career high six this season.

The Devils close out MAC Freedom play in their next contest when they head to Purchase, N.Y. to take on Manhattanville College this Tuesday, October 27 at 5 p.m.