The Misericordia University women's soccer team overcame a sluggish first half with a three-goal barrage early in the second as the Cougars defeated King's 4-1, Wednesday night at Mangelsdorf Field.

Senior Kim Suchoski scored a hat-trick to move into fourth all-time in career goals at Misericordia (37). Sophomore Courtney Dillon was given her first collegiate start and made it count, recording the winning goal and also notching an assist.

Sophomores Sam Helmstetter and Laura Roney each added a pair of assists in the victory.

MU opened the scoring in the third minute. Dillon broke down the right side and put a low cross along the ground that was tapped in by Suchoski right in front of goal.

King's grabbed a surprise equalizer six minutes before halftime. Freshman Jackie Wheatley hit a 25-yard direct free kick just under the crossbar, tying the game at 1-1.

The Cougars broke open the match with three goals in the first 19 minutes of the second half. Dillon grabbed her first career goal in the 51st minute, knocking in a deflected cross from Roney.

Suchoski would add two more over the next 13 minutes, one a rebound after Helmstetter's shot was saved and the other directly off a double-assist from Helmstetter and Roney.

Monarch goalkeeper Melissa D'Aniello finished with 10 saves and made a pair of outstanding stops late in the game. Ashley DiPippa crossed to Christine Wilhelm at the back post, only for D'Aniello to deny her with a great diving save. The ball then came back in to DiPippa, but her shot resulted in a reaction save from the King's keeper.

Midway through the first half, Katie Usher had played a great ball over the top to Wilhelm, who was able to lay it back to Helmstetter. The sophomore's shot was deflected by a defender and then saved by D'Aniello.

Helmstetter then found Wilhelm with a nice through ball, but the freshman shot right at the goalkeeper.

Misericordia had a golden chance to score in the 34th minute, when Helmstetter put Suchoski through all alone up the middle. Suchoski lofted a shot over D'Aniello, but it somehow went wide left of the open goal.

Misericordia gets its first conference victory of the season and improves to 9-4-1, 1-2. The Cougars will look to get back to .500 in the league standings when they travel to Delaware Valley on Saturday.