Defensive breakdowns killed the Cougars as two cheap goals ruined an otherwise solid performance for the Misericordia University women's soccer team, who fell 2-1 to FDU-Florham.

Sam Helmstetter scored for Misericordia but it wasn't enough as the Cougars slipped into a tie for fifth place in the Freedom Conference standings with one game remaining.

Despite some good build-up early, the Cougars went down nine minutes in. A giveaway at the back allowed MAC leading scorer Brittany Kanickij to dribble the keeper and slide the ball into the open net.

MU continued to control the play and tied the game up in the 34th minute, with Helmstetter powering in a header off Jenn Brucker's corner kick.

In the 60th minute, FDU grabbed the winner with a 50-yard direct free kick that skipped through the defense untouched and snuck inside the far post.

Misericordia had two 20-yard free kick opportunities in the span of a minute, but missed both. The Cougars' best chance to pull level came when Kim Suchoski crossed to Laura Roney, whose first touch found Andrea Sierer from five yards out. Unfortunately, the junior's shot went wide of the right upright.

Early in the second half, Suchoski ripped a shot of the post after some good build-up play from Nicolette Ruffler and Alyssa Mocion.

Suchoski had created a pair of good chances for the Cougars in the opening minutes of the game. Two minutes in, she headed a short goal kick to Roney, who shot just over the crossbar.

Soon after Suchoski played a outstanding one-touch pass that put Helmstetter in all alone, but the FDU goalkeeper came flying off her line to smother the chance.

The Cougars ultimately held a 21-9 advantage in shots and had eight corner kicks to FDU's one.

Misericordia falls to 10-5-2, 2-3-1 and will host Gwynedd-Mercy on Thursday before a huge Freedom Conference finale at Wilkes next weekend.