Box Score The Misericordia University men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking defeat as Eastern tallied a tying goal late in regulation and advanced on penalty kicks in the MAC Freedom championship, Saturday evening at Mangelsdorf Field.

Trey Ziegler scored an early goal for the Cougars who appeared destined for their first MAC Freedom title in four years.

But, the Eagles netted the tying goal with just 1:28 remaining in regulation.

Eastern went on to convert all five penalty kicks while game Most Valuable Player Quentin Keibler made a save to secure the shootout win.

Misericordia took the lead at 10:44 when Niko Amity played a ball by a defender and Anthony Ippolito carried toward the end line before rolling a pass across the goal mouth where Trey Ziegler charged down the middle to bury a one-timer into the back of the net.

The Cougars had two solid chances in the game's opening minutes.  Ethan Aigeldinger stripped a defender in the Eastern half, but was forced to take a tough-angle shot that rolled across the box.

Amity followed it up with a rip from the right flank, by Keibler made the save at the near post at 4:52.

Eastern's best opportunity of the first half came two minutes later when Cade Harmon gathered a rebound and fired a shot from the right flank that was wide left.

David Malaquias nearly gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead late in the first half, but his point-blank was stopped by Keibler near the left post at 40:48.

Keibler bobbled a loose ball early in the second half, but was able to scramble to make a diving save on Anthony Ippolito's shot.

Eastern threatened midway through the second half when a Misericordia defender slipped and the Eagles' Jacob Myers carried diagonally from the right side and fired a shot that was played over the bar by MU's Patrick Hoffman.

The Cougars had another near-miss when Anthony Ippolito had a sliding shot in front, but Keibler made a kick save at 76:12.

Hoffman made a diving save on a shot by Myers, but Jake Sankey was there to bury the rebound to tie the score at 88:32.

Amity had the best chance of the first OT when his shot from the right flank sailed just over the bar 30 seconds into the extra session.

The Cougars nearly won the game in the final minute of the second overtime, but Vincenzo Diliberti's header was cleared off the line by an Eastern defender and caromed off the bottom of the crossbar.

The Eagles were perfect on their first four PK attempts to claim their second consecutive MAC Freedom title.