A 78th minute goal handed the Misericordia University women's soccer team its first loss of the season as the Cougars fell 1-0 to Scranton, Saturday afternoon at Fitzpatrick Field.

After several close calls, Scranton finally broke through after a failed clearance by Misericordia. The Royals' Sarah Gibbons took the ball off the foot of an MU defender in the box and rifled it into the far corner.

The Cougars had a great chance to open the scoring seven minutes into the second half. Laura Roney crossed to the back post and Sam Helmstetter's touch from three yards out somehow went right of the goal.

A few minutes earlier, senior Kim Suchoski had almost headed in classmate Jenn Brucker's corner kick, but it was cleared off the line by a Royals defender.

Scranton had three golden chances in a five and a half minute span midway through the period. First Chelsea Paskman hit a dipping volley and Myers made a great tip save over the bar. Emily Farrell then headed a corner off the post and Christina Cognetti was through before Myers saved her chance from inside the six-yard box.

Scranton had come close to scoring in the opening five minutes, as Myers saved Samantha Russo's shot and then managed to hold Cognetti's point-blank rebound.

The Cougars worked their way into game, with Emily Esposito almost getting through the defense after running down a through ball from Roney, and Suchoski firing wide from 25 yards out.

MU's best chance of the first half came in the 29th minute, when Scranton goalkeeper Caitlin Byrne made a great charging block on Roney's breakaway chance and then saved Alyssa Mocion's follow-up.

The Royals' Rebecca Hextall had two great chances late in the half. She headed just over the bar from eight yards out off a cross by Cognetti, and then forced Myers into a diving save from the same distance a minute later.

Myers ended the game with nine saves. Misericordia falls to 4-1-1 and will host Keystone on Monday.