Megan Lannigan scored a goal in each half and the #13 Misericordia University women's soccer team overcame an early deficit to cruise to a 5-1 victory over FDU-Florham in the Freedom Conference semifinals on Friday night at Mangelsdorf Field.
 
Laura Roney scored a goal to record her 100^th career point, while Sam Helmstetter and Megan Antrim also added goals in the victory. Erin Roberts, Alyssa Mocion, and Ashley DiPippa each recorded assists.
 
Despite recording the first six shots of the match, the Cougars found themselves in an unfamiliar position, falling behind the Devils in the 11^th minute on a Samantha Messina goal.
 
However, MU quickly answered, as Lannigan cleaned up a miss to tie the score at 1-1 in the 15^th minute.
 
The Cougars continued to control possession of the game, and in the 42^nd minute, Roberts dropped a ball to Roney on the right side, and Roney bent the ball past FDU-Florham goalkeeper Anna Bandly into the upper 90 to give MU a 2-1 lead heading into halftime.
 
MU quickly increased their lead in the second half, with Helmstetter scoring off a Mocion assist in the 54^th minute and Lannigan scoring off another rebound less than two minutes later.
 
Antrim added a goal in the 78^th minute off a DiPippa assist to close the scoring at 5-1.
 
The Cougars outshot the Devils 34-4 for the match, including 19-2 on goal, and held a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Maureen Ciccosanti earned the win in goal for MU, making one save.
 
The top-seeded Cougars will host Eastern in the Freedom Conference Championship match on Sunday at 12 PM in a rematch of the 2011 title match. Eastern defeated Wilkes earlier this evening on a 5-4 advantage in penalty kicks.