The Misericordia University women's field hockey team couldn't overcome a halftime deficit, falling to Delaware Valley, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.
 
The contest was the Freedom Conference opener for both teams.
 
The Cougars came out with an aggressive start. After just missing on goals in the opening two minutes, sophomore Hannah Harvey scored her third goal of the season to give MU an early 1-0 lead in the fourth minute.
 
It wasn't long before Delaware Valley found the equalizer, as Leah Hawthorn took a deflected ball off her own corner entry and put it past Cougars' keeper Haley Brandt to even the score at 1-1 in the eighth minute.
 
The Cougars battled back, continuing to control possession. After Aggie keeper Sandra Edwards stopped a Chelsea Lahr shot, Delaware Valley was called for a foul in the circle to give MU a penalty stroke. Freshman Allie Elmes took the stroke for the Cougars, but Edwards came up with the save.
 
The Aggies again took advantage of a penalty corner in the 24^th minute, as Rony Jacober converted off a pass from teammate Kelsey Zook to give DVC a 2-1 lead.
 
Neither team had another good look at a goal until the 65^th minute. Playing with the advantage due to an LVC yellow card, the Cougars earned three penalty corners and had several good looks but failed to even the score.
 
Brandt posted five saves in goal for the Cougars in the loss. MU outshot Delaware Valley 15-8, including 9-7 on goal.
 
The Cougars travel to Haverford on Tuesday.