The Misericordia University field hockey team battled for nearly 90 minutes but gave up a goal in the second overtime period to fall to King's College, 1-0, on Friday night.
 
“This was by far one of the best games we've played all season,” said MU head coach Robyn Fedor Stahovic. “We really outplayed and outhustled them tonight, controlling play for much of the game. Unfortunately, we came up on the short side of the scoreboard.”
 
Defense was the name of the game early and throughout on this night, as both teams struggled to get good looks at the goal. Despite allowing the Lady Monarchs several corner opportunities, it was actually MU's Lindsay Hischak who had the first shot on goal in the 19^th minute.
 
King's had a good scoring chance in the 23^rd minute off a corner, but MU goalkeeper Grace Riker came up with a save on Calli Berryman's shot. Just three minutes later, Berryman attacked again off a corner, but Cougar midfielder Emily Hegner came up with a much-needed goal-line defensive save, allowing the Cougars to hold the score at 0-0 going into the locker room.
 
“We came out well prepared tonight,” said Stahovic. “Everyone brought it tonight, and it led to a very complete game. We really frustrated them throughout.”
 
The second half continued the defensive showcase, as neither team managed good looks at the goal. The Lady Monarchs had one of their best opportunities in the closing seconds of regulation, earning a pair of penalty corners as time expired, but the Cougar defense cleared the ball on the second try to force overtime.
 
King's came out with a strong attack in the first overtime period, but the MU defense was up to the challenge, as Riker made four saves and Hegner added another defensive save on the line in the period.
 
“Grace and Emily both had tremendous games for us tonight,” said Stahovic of her players. “The saves that those two made really kept us in the game.”
 
The Lady Monarch attack remained strong in the second overtime, but the Cougar defense blocked a shot in the 86^th minute and Riker made three saves in 55 seconds to keep the game scoreless. Riker got her fourth save of the overtime in the 90^th minute, but King's continued the build, and Berryman poked the ball through a scrum at the net just seconds later to give King's the win.
 
“It was a bit of an unlucky goal,” said junior defender Ali Sacco. “We were all crowded in front of the goal and she managed to just slide it through.”
 
 
Riker made a total of ten saves in goal for the game, eight of them in the overtime periods.
 
Despite the loss, Sacco thinks that there is a lot to be gained from this game.
 
“It's been a bit of a rough season,” Sacco said. “Tonight we showed that we are going to keep fighting each game. Everyone brought an intensity tonight from the moment we stepped on the field in warmups until the very end. We need to continue to do that same thing.”
 
The Cougars return to action on Tuesday, hosting Wilkes in their Freedom Conference finale. The game will also serve as Senior Day for MU, as the team honors Riker and Liz Murdock.