The Misericordia University men's soccer team advanced to the Freedom Conference championship game in a penalty kick shootout with Eastern, Thursday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

After 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Cougars converted all four of their penalty kick attempts to clinch a 4-2 win.

Andrew Loyd made eight saves to record the shutout in goal while Alec Parker, Max Campbell, Joe Scanlon and Cody Hack all converted their shootout attempts.

Both teams had opportunities to score with one of Eastern's best chances coming in the opening minutes on a direct kick from just outside the penalty area.

Phil Mantua's shot was deflected and cleared away.

Scanlon had a pair of headers go wide of the goal over the next 15 minutes before Eastern's most dangerous threat of the match.

Loyd charged off his line to force Terry Fry's 1-v-1 opportunity to sail high.

MU's Bryan Kulbacki gave Cougars fans another reason to cheer, but his header went wide right at 35:00.

The Cougars came out fast in the second half and were thisclose to going ahead when Joe DiGirolomo's header was cleared off the EU goal line just before crossing the line.

DiGirolomo's direct kick was tipped over the crossbar at 63:00 and Tyler Mensch headed another shot wide on the ensuing corner.

Misericordia had another golden opportunity at 75:48 when Eastern was whistled for a handball in front of their own goal.

As he did throughout the afternoon, EU keeper Michael Dorsch came up big for the Eagles with a diving stop on Campbell's attempt.

MU made another run in the closing minutes when DiGirolomo's header was deflected away from the goal line in the 87th minute.

In the shootout, Fry gave Eastern a quick 1-0 lead and Alec Parker responded for the Cougars.

After Eastern's second attempt was wide left, Campbell's shot caromed off the inside of the right post for a 2-1 lead.

Ryan Castle evened things for the Eagles and Scanlon made it 3-2.

Eastern's fourth attempt clanged off the right post and Hack buried his attempt to seal the deal.

The Cougars had a 14-9 edge in shots and had a 10-3 advantage in corners.

MU is 14-3-2 and will host Wilkes in the Freedom title game, Saturday at 2:00 at Mangelsdorf Field.