FDU-Florham scored twice in the final seconds of the first half as the Misericordia University women's soccer team fell 2-1 in the Freedom Conference semifinals, Wednesday in Madison, NJ.

Misericordia took an early lead three minutes in, when a cross from Laura Roney was headed in the left corner by Sam Helmstetter to put MU up 1-0.

The Cougars seemed to be heading into halftime with a one-goal advantage when a shocking sequence left Misericordia reeling.

With 27 seconds remaining in the half a corner kick wasn't cleared and Freedom leading scorer Brittany Kanickij blasted it home from six yards out, dealing the Cougars a crushing blow.

No one could believe what happened next, as FDU won possession right off the kick-off and Kanickij launched a 40-yard shot from the right sideline that carried over the MU keeper and under the crossbar as the dying seconds of the half ticked away.

The Devils boxed it in for most of the second half, denying the Cougars any real good looks on goal. Perhaps the best chance for Misericordia came when freshman Emily Esposito whipped a low, dangerous ball across the goal mouth but Kim Suchoski couldn't get on the end of it.

In the closing minutes, Helmstetter nearly connected on a difficult through ball to Suchoski but it went just a bit long. Kanickij had a chance to effectively end the game in the 86th minute but MU's Morgan Myers made a great stop from close range.

Earlier, the Cougars had several good chances to add to their lead in the first half. Sixteen minutes in, Roney played a great ball over to top to Esposito, but FDU goalkeeper Lauren Albrecht made a crucial decision to come charging out and punch the chance away.

Albrecht came up with two more great saves, coming out to stop Suchoski's breakaway and then somehow tipping Ashley DiPippa's shot over the crossbar after Helmstetter's shot was cleared off the line by a defender.

The Cougars fall to 12-6-2 with the loss and will wait for ECAC selection this weekend to see if their season will continue. FDU-Florham will host Manhattanville in the Freedom Conference championship game on Saturday.