The Misericordia University men's soccer team stormed back into the Freedom Conference playoff picture on Saturday, defeating FDU-Florham 5-2 on Senior Day.

Coming into the match, MU knew it needed to win the final two league games of the season and get significant help if the Cougars were to have a chance to defend their two consecutive Freedom titles.

With the emphatic victory and other results around the league going Misericordia's way, the Cougars are back in the fourth playoff spot and can prolong their season with a win next weekend at rival Wilkes.

Junior Matt Scott had two goals, with Dan Pinto, Bryan Kulbacki and Andy Bush also scoring. Greg Korhonen and Bo Garrick had a pair of assists each.

MU came out firing on all cylinders, jumping out a four goal lead within the first 32 minutes of play.

Kulbacki opened the scoring in the 9th minute on a beautiful goal. The junior took down David Stoner's long ball with a great touch and then calmly flipped a shot over the FDU keeper and in.

The next two goals came on Korhonen free kicks. First Scott flicked in Korhonen's service from the left side before Bush did the same thing on a ball from midfield.

Scott made it 4-0 with his second of the night, finishing off the rebound after Garrick had sprinted free and forced a great save from the Devils goalkeeper.

Misericordia keeper Mason Astaneh came up with two good saves in the first half, holding a shot off an FDU turn early on and then making a great reaction save to palm away a Devils header midway through.

Defender Tyler Anderson also came up big on the defensive end, tracking back to stop a breakaway chance when the score was still 2-0.

The Devils didn't give up and fought back to 4-2 by scoring on corner kicks right before and after the halftime break. However, the Cougars were able to compose themselves and grab a fifth goal to eliminate any hopes of a comeback.

Bush created the final goal with a nice run down the right side and crossed to Garrick, who set up Pinto to smash the ball home. It was Pinto's seventh goal of the season.

The victory came on Senior Appreciation Day as Anderson, Joey Scanlon and Jay-P Evans were honored after their final regular season home game.

The Cougars are now 10-7, 3-3 and will travel to Penn College on Monday before a massive regular season finale in Wilkes-Barre next Saturday night.

Game Highlights: