An overtime goal on the break foiled a great second half by the Misericordia University women's soccer team as the Cougars dropped their Freedom Conference opener 2-1 to Eastern on Homecoming.

Senior Kim Suchoski scored for Misericordia in the second half but Eastern grabbed the victory in the 97th minute, slipping a breakaway chance inside the left post.

Eastern has won three consecutive conference championships and advanced to at least the second round of the NCAA tournament in each of those seasons. But as the game wore on, it was Misericordia who seemed to be establishing itself as the stronger team on its home turf.

In a first half that featured just three shots on goal and few chances for either team, Eastern emerged with a 1-0 lead after a 31st-minute own goal.

MU began getting forward through Laura Roney, who had a good look just before the half that was right at the keeper, and then shot just high three minutes after the break.

The Cougars tied it in the 59th minute. Senior Jenica Keister played a beautiful cross in to her classmate Suchoski, who calmly poked it in to equal the score at 1-1.

MU kept pressing and could have taken the lead two minutes later. Suchoski got behind the Eastern defense again but her breakaway chance was smothered by the Eagles goalkeeper. In the ensuing play, Alyssa Mocion flicked the ball to Ashley DiPippa, and her cross led to a diving header from Katie Usher that was wide right.

Senior Kristen Gedon also had a chance in the 69th minute, firing wide from long range after some good build up by the Cougars.

MU goalkeeper Morgan Myers made four saves and needed to come diving out and hold dangerous Eastern crosses in the 85th and 90th minutes. She also tipped an overtime shot onto the crossbar before the Eagles scored the winner.

The Cougars fall to 8-2-1, 0-1 with the loss and will host powerhouse Ithaca on Wednesday.