The Misericordia University women's lacrosse team claimed its first MAC Freedom Championship and NCAA Tournament berth with a thrilling 11-9 win over FDU-Florham, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

Maggie McGovern made nine saves to earn MVP honors as the Cougars won for the first time in five straight title game meetings with the Devils.

Kristen Ritter led the Cougars with three goals and eight draw controls and Lauren Weitzel added three goals, two caused turnovers and two ground balls.

Kaila Quinlivan had two goals and an assist and six ground balls while Justine Johnson had a goal and three assists.

Bri Ladner had three draw controls and three ground balls as the Cougars won their 11^th straight game to improve to 13-5.

In a game that featured defensive intensity throughout, the teams exchanged turnovers on first four possessions in the opening minutes.

Weitzel took a nice pass from Johnson and bounced in a shot from the left post to put the Cougars in front just over 90 seconds into the game.

Weitzel made it 2-0 when she charged down the middle and bounced a shot that deflected off the goalie and in just 36 seconds later.

Following an FDU-Florham goal, Ritter put a shot under the crossbar from in front for a 3-1 lead with 17:59 to go.

The Devils answered off a rebound less than a minute later.

Quinlivan fired a pass from the right flank to Emily Connell in front of the net where she bounced a shot inside the right post to make it 4-2 with 15:37 remaining.

McGovern made the first of several big saves a minute later and the Cougars converted on the other end.  Nicole Winter out ran the defense and found Amy Roth who made a nice pass to Quinlivan on the left post where she finished inside the right post to give MU a 5-2 lead.

The Devils scored two straight, including the first of five free position goals, to get within 5-4 with 10:09 left in the first half.

Shae O'Leary whipped a shot in the upper right corner to answer for the Cougars less than a minute later and Quinlivan followed just 13 seconds later for a 7-4 lead.

The Devils added an fps goal and the Cougars led 7-6 at halftime.

Defense ruled early in the second half before the Devils struck twice in a two-minute span to pull even for the first time, 7-7 with 21:05 to go.

The Cougars called a time out and Johnson responded with a goal from in front off a nice pass from Amanda Rackliff with 19:18 to go.

Despite two more big saves by McGovern, the Devils again pulled even, 8-8, with 12:12 remaining.

After McGovern made a save on a free position shot, the Cougars went back in front, 9-8, when Ritter took a pass from Johnson behind the net to beat the shot clock with 7:42 to go.

After FDU-Florham tied it again with 6:52 to play, Ritter stuffed a shot inside the left post to put the Cougars ahead for good, 10-9, with 4:47 left.

Weitzel raced down the middle to finish a short-handed insurance goal with 3:26 remaining.