Box Score The Misericordia University women's soccer team improved to 8-0 with an impressive 3-1 win in a battle of nationally-ranked teams, Saturday night at Messiah.

Michaela Fasolino scored a pair of goals and Emma Sweitzer added a goal and an assist as the ninth-ranked Cougars jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

Alexis Benedetto made four saves in goal for MU as the Cougars earned their first win in the series against the fifth-ranked Falcons.

Benedetto made a pair of saves in a one-minute span, including a diving stop to her left at 11:03.

The Cougars turned up the offensive pressure and finally got on the board at 25:06 when Sweitzer played a ball from the left end line to Fasolino who finished in front to give MU the lead.

Fasolino's penalty kick was denied, but she buried the rebound for a 2-0 lead at 39:01.

The Cougars increased their lead early in the second half when Fasolino beat a defender on the right flank and fed a pass to Sweitzer near the top of the box where she beat the keeper to the left side for a 3-0 lead at 49:30.

Benedetto came up big again when she made a leaping save to deflect a shot over the crossbar at 55:07.

Another Messiah shot was deflected off the crossbar by Benedetto less than a minute later.

The Falcons scored their only goal on a free kick from 25 yards out in the 87^th minute.

Misericordia held a 16-10 edge in shots, including 8-5 on goal.

The Cougars will host Scranton, Wednesday.