McKenzie Ruffing and Alex Gallagher scored goals and Jackie Stevens added two assists as the Misericordia University women's soccer team advanced to the MAC Freedom championship game with a 2-0 win over DeSales, Tuesday night at Mangelsdorf Field.

Ruffing scored off a feed from Stevens late in the first half and Gallagher added an insurance goal near the end of regulation.
Alyssa Pojero made six saves to record the shutout in goal.

Wilkes defeated Eastern, 1-0 in double-overtime, and will host Misericordia in the MAC Freedom title match, Saturday.

DeSales best scoring chance came in the opening minutes when Rachel Medlar lofted a shot from 35 yards that was tipped over the crossbar by Pojero.

Misericordia had a dangerous chance when Ashley Edgell played a ball in front from the right end line, but DeSales' Claire Bassetti cleared the ball off the line at 18:27.

The Cougars had another opportunity at 22:05 when Jackie Stevens sent a ball into the box from the left side and Gallagher settled, but her left-footed strike was high from 16 yards out.

After a DeSales infraction just outside the box, a quick touch to Gallagher resulted in a blocked shot at 28:02.

MU made the most of their next opportunity as Stevens played a ball back to a charging Ruffing who ripped a shot into the upper left corner from 30 yards out at 30:37.

The Cougars possessed the ball throughout much of the first half with the MU defense holding DeSales without a shot for 30 minutes after the early opportunity.

The Bulldogs got a re-start from 25 yards out at 32:55 and managed two shots with the second being blocked and cleared away.

The Cougars nearly made it 2-0 in the final minute of the first half, but Lia Gaccione made a diving save on Shestan Lynam's shot near the left post at 44:10.

The Bulldogs possessed the ball more in the second half and they managed eight shots over the final 45 minutes, with most of them being routine saves for Pojero.

DeSales best chance of the half came at 83:37 when ripped a shot from 25 yards out, but Pojero read it all the way.

Stevens played a ball to Edgell near the top of the box where she flicked it on Gallagher who slotted a ball across the box inside the right post for a 2-0 lead at 88:12.