The Misericordia women's lacrosse team battled with Muhlenberg, but ultimately fell to the Mules, 14-8, Wednesday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

The Cougars finish the non-conference season with a record of 4-6 while Muhlenberg improves to 5-2.

Sarah Bender and Megan Whelan each scored two goals for MU and Kaila Quinlivan tallied a goal and two assists. Emily Connell picked up three ground balls and Brianna Ladner corralled six draw controls.

Tori Hodges made 12 saves in goal for the Cougars.

Muhlenberg jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but Misericordia answered back with three straight to take the lead. Quinlivan got the Cougars on the board when she fired a bounce shot past the keeper.

Less the two minutes later, Quinlivan was involved in the game-tying goal as she found Bender cutting across the middle, who spun around and fired it into the net. Kate Raab gave the Cougars the lead with 16:59 remaining in the first half as she fired a free position shot above the keeper's right shoulder.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Mules tied the game 29 seconds later and proceeded to go on a 6-0 run to take an 8-3 lead. Whelan got a goal back for MU with 6:21 before the half when she scored in a man-down situation, but Muhlenberg retook a five-goal lead with 11 seconds to go in the half to go into the locker room with a 9-4 advantage.

The Mules extended their lead in the second half as they took a 14-5 lead with just 8:43 remaining. Lexee Willey, Ashley Hobbs and Bender all scored in the final seven minutes, but the comeback attempt ended there as Muhlenberg held on to the victory.

The Cougars will host DeSales, April 7 at 1:00, as they begin conference play.