The third-ranked Misericordia University women's soccer team won the MAC Freedom championship and clinched an NCAA Tournament berth with a 1-0 win over Stevens, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

Tournament MVP Zoee Farr anchored a defense that recorded its 12^th shutout of the season.

Alexis Benedetto made five saves in goal to post her ninth shutout of the year.

Emma Sweitzer scored the only goal of the game in the 78^th minute on a two-on-one breakaway with Kaylee Sturans.

Locked in a scoreless battle late in the second half, Sweitzer stripped a Stevens defender 40 yards out.  Sturans gathered the deflection and carried down the middle of the field before laying a pass to Sweitzer in the box where she slotted a shot past the sliding Ducks keeper inside the right post at 77:18.

The Cougars held the Ducks to just one shot the rest of the way to improve to 18-1.

With MU applying pressure early, Sweitzer nearly gave the Cougars the lead when she rolled a shot from 12 yards out.  Stevens keeper Izzy DiDario made a diving stab to her right to deflect the shot wide of the left post at 3:44.

The Cougars had another a dangerous chance six minutes later, but Michaela Fasolino's point-blank take was denied near the right post.

Stevens earned the game's first corner in the 13^th minute and Benedetto punched the ball away.

The teams went back-and-forth throughout the much of the first half without either team generating a dangerous opportunity.

Stevens' best chance of the half came on a chip shot that floated over the goal at 28:06.

Emma Przyhocki stepped up to clear a loose ball from the six-yard line in the 31^st minute and Benedetto pounced on a loose ball a minute later.

Misericordia had another chance late in the half when Sweitzer took a throw-in, carried down the right sideline, cut back to middle and found Madison Brdaric whose shot from the top of box rolled just left.

The Cougars threatened in the opening minute of the second half, but Fasolino's left-footed volley off a corner was saved.

Farr found Sturans on a re-start which eventually led to a header by Julia Beck that sailed just high in the 57^th minute.

Stevens best chance of the day came in the 62^nd minute when a lofted shot from 35 yards out caromed off the left corner of the crossbar.

Sweitzer gathered a loose ball deep in the box and served a ball across the goal mouth that was just out the reach of Fasolino in the 76^th minute.

Misericordia will open NCAA Tournament play next weekend.