The Misericordia University women's soccer season came to an end heartbreaking fashion with a 5-4 double-overtime loss to William Smith in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Championships, Saturday evening at the University of Scranton.

In a match that was part track meet and part heavyweight slugfest and featured two of the top attacks in the nation, neither team could stop the other.

After falling behind in the opening minute, the top-ranked Cougars answered with three straight goals to take a 3-1 lead late in the first half.

Down 1-0, the Cougars played a long pass into the right corner that was collected by a William Smith defender.  Kaylee Sturans stripped the ball deep in the Herons' end and carried to end line where she centered the ball to Maegan Allspach who one-timed a shot past the keeper inside the right post to tie the score, 1-1, at 9:08.

The Cougars went in front midway through the first half when the ball was played wide to Kate Field where she dribbled down the right center and played a ball to the center of the box.  Emma Sweitzer touched the ball to Michaela Fasolino who buried a shot from 12 yards out for a 2-1 lead at 27:22.

Misericordia made it 3-1 at 41:46 when Allie Waite got a touch on a perfect service from Field on a corner from the left side.

After Alexis Benedetto made a leaping save in the 57^th minute, the Cougars countered and Sweitzer's left-footed strike from 10 yards out was just wide of the right post.

William Smith pulled within 3-2 at 62:47, but Sweitzer answered less than two minutes later when she beat a defender in the box and found the right side of the goal at 64:01.
 
The Herons answered less than three minutes later to get within 3-1.
 
Benedetto saved a header and stopped a 1-v-1 shot near the left post at 69:40 to keep MU in front.  She made a leaping save in the top right corner at 72:29 and the Herons hit the crossbar a minute later.
 
The Cougars gained possession and Sweitzer carried the ball down the left side, beat two defenders and sent a shot across the goal mouth just wide of the right post at 74:09.
 
Benedetto came off her line and made a sliding tackle to clear the ball in the 83^rd minute.
 
The Herons scored the game-tying goal with just :10 remaining in regulation.
 
Benedetto, who had 10 saves on the night, made a diving stop early in the second OT and the Herons netted the game-winner on a deflection in the 107^th minute.
 
Misericordia, the top-ranked team in the nation entering the match, finished 20-2.  William Smith will face TCNJ in the sectional finals, Sunday.