Junior Samantha Sorokas exploded for five goals as the Misericordia University field hockey team won their Homecoming match-up 5-3 over DeSales, Saturday at Mangelsdorf Field.

The Cougars improved to 2-0 in Freedom Conference play and have now scored 10 goals in their two league contests.

Sorokas came into the game already tied for the Freedom lead in goals scored, and now has 12 for the season. Three of her strikes came off passes from Haley Ellis, who was credited with two assists. Emily Foley also had an assist.

Misericordia took a 2-0 lead into halftime as Ellis twice found Sorokas for goals.

After some early sustained pressure by DeSales, MU broke out and Sorokas tapped in Ellis' shot for the opening goal of the game, 5:37 in.

The juniors repeated the feat less than eight minutes later, when Ellis' rip was blocked and Sorokas was there to slot home the rebound and double Misericordia's advantage.

Four minutes after halftime, Ellis fed Sorokas, who pulled a nice move on her defender and finished off the play for a 3-0 MU lead. DeSales answered right away, jamming in a goal after MU goalie Grace Riker had made a trio of saves.

But Sorokas wasn't done and she made it 4-1 by finishing her own rebound after Kelsey DeBruyne's shot was saved and Sorokas put her initial attempt off the post.

The Bulldogs made it interesting with two more goals late in the game, but Sorokas scored an important insurance goal with 15 minutes to play, off an assist from Foley.

Riker finished with eight saves and made a great stop in the final minutes to preserve the two-goal advantage.

The Cougars are now 5-5 overall and will host William Paterson on Thursday.