The Misericordia University women's lacrosse team dropped its Freedom Conference opener to FDU-Florham, 19-10, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

Melina Juliano led the Cougars with three goals while Catie Viegas and Kate Pagnotta each added a pair of goals.

Brooke North, Jenny Perucca and Emily Hegner all scored once and Erika Proctor made eight saves in goal.

Perucca added four ground balls and Hegner added three while Ali Elmes had a team-high three draw controls.

FDU-Florham took a 4-0 lead eight minutes into the game before North got the Cougars on the board with an unassisted goal from the right wing just over 10 minutes gone.

After a Devils goal, Pagnotta bounced a free position shot inside the left post to make it 5-2 with 16:25 to play in the first half.

Trailing 7-2, Perucca drove down the left side and stuffed a shot inside the left post with 12:17 to go.

Less than a minute later Pagnotta came from behind the net and fired a low shot to get MU within 7-4.

FDU-Florham scored three straight goals before Juliano converted a free position shot with 13 seconds to go before halftime.

Juliano scored a man-up goal from the left wing early in the second half and Viegas whipped home a shot while cutting across the middle to cut the deficit to 11 with 26:02 remaining.

FDU ran off seven consecutive goals before Viegas scored on a free position shot with 2:15 left.

Juliano followed with a man-up goal one minute later to make it 18-9.

Hegner scored an unassisted goal from in front of the net with less than a minute to play.

Misericordia will play at King's, Wednesday.