Box Score Olivia Garcia and Brooke North scored five goals each as the Misericordia University women's lacrosse team clinched a first-round home playoff game with a 19-15 win at King's, Wednesday.

Garcia added three assists and Melina Juliano and Erin Baker both scored three goals as the Cougars won their sixth straight game to improve to 8-6 overall and 5-0 in the Freedom.

Katie McLoughlin made seven saves to earn the win in goal.

Rachael Taylor and Emily Hegner had a team-high three ground balls while Garcia and Ashley Hobbs had three draw controls.  Allie Elmes led the team with three caused turnovers.

The teams exchanged goals over the first minutes of the first half before the Cougars closed the half on a 7-2 run.

Juliano and Garcia both scored twice as part of five straight goals for an 11-6 advantage with 5:46 to play in the first half.

Following a King's goal, North and Baker scored back-to-back goals.  The Monarchs scored with eight seconds remaining to cut it to 13-8 at halftime.

King's opened the second half with four straight goals to pull within 13-12 less than four minutes into the second half.

The Cougars responded with a 5-1 spurt to go ahead, 18-13, with 7:15 to go.

Misericordia will host FDU-Florham in the regular season finale, Saturday at 1:00.