Juniors Matt Scott and Dan Pinto each scored on similar plays as the Misericordia University men's soccer team got its 2010 Freedom Conference campaign back on track, beating local rival King's 2-1.

Scott scored in the 32nd minute, as sophomore Andy Bush pulled a nice turn on the left side and crossed in. The ball was only partially cleared and Scott was there to rip it into the right side of the goal for 1-0 Cougar lead.

15 minutes into the second half, Bush again attacked on the left side and lost the ball, only for the rebound to find its way into the path of Pinto. Just like his classmate, the junior midfielder slotted his shot inside the far right post, putting Misericordia up 2-0.

The Monarchs would get a consolation goal in the 89th minute, as Tim Meyer ran down a long ball and snuck through the Cougar defense for an easy finish. MU goalkeeper Mason Astaneh held a dangerous cross in the final minute but King's would get no closer to a tying chance.

Misericordia had been lifted by the return of captains Tyler Anderson and Joey Scanlon, who each were back in the starting lineup after lengthy absences due to injury.

In the opening minutes, Anderson needed to stop King's Dan Horn one-on-one from the left side and easily handled the chance, showing he was ready to go.

Scanlon was kept off the scoresheet after beating the Monarchs in overtime last year, but was dangerous in the second half. In the 73rd minute he shot just high from 25 yards and later won a header off a corner kick that was saved.

Misericordia had a great chance to double its lead early in the second half, when Pinto got free on the left and fed a trailing Scott, but the winger just missed the right post.

MU defender David Stoner came up with a crucial block on Horn, after the Monarch forward had sliced through the Misericordia backline.

After Scott's goal, Stoner almost made it 3-0 in the 75th minute. A nifty double-reverse from Bush to Bo Garrick and finally to Stoner got the freshman a good look, but he missed the frame.

Several MU miscues made for nervy moments in the first half. After the defense let a pass skip through them, Astaneh was forced into a diving catch save on Alex Martino. Later, a misplayed cross dropped to Joe Bender, but Chris Hummel slid in to clear his shot off the line.

Bush had a clear chance in the 29th minute, with a great turn to beat the defense to the right side, but his blast was off target.

King's Dan Mortensen got around the end only for Astaneh to make a nice kick save late in the opening period, and Bender beat Astaneh to a ball but headed it wide of the open net.

With the win, the Cougars improve to 8-6 overall and 1-2 in Freedom Conference play. MU travels to Delaware Valley on Saturday.


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