The third-ranked Misericordia University women's soccer team flexed its offensive muscle in a 5-0 win over Arcadia in front a large Homecoming crowd, Saturday evening at Mangelsdorf Field.

Emma Sweitzer and Sabrina Competiello scored two goals each and Kaylee Sturans added a goal as the Cougars took their MAC Freedom opener while improving to 8-0-1 overall.

Leading 1-0 at halftime, the Cougars may have been inspired by the 2012 Final Four celebration at intermission as they tallied four goals over the last 45 minutes.

Michaela Fasolino played a perfect pass through to Sweitzer down the left side.  She dribbled to the six, forced the keeper to commit and a slotted a shot inside the left post for a 1-0 lead at 2:48.

Arcadia's best chance of the first half came on a pass to the left side of the box, but Brenna Field closed on the ball and forced a high shot at 19:52.

Fasolino and Sweitzer both had good looks over the next several minutes that required diving saves.

The Cougars made it 2-0 when Sturans played a corner that was punched out by the keeper, but a perfectly-positioned Sweitzer buried the carom into the back of the net at 55:32.

Fasolino outworked two defenders near midfield and slotted a pass to Competiello in the box where she placed a shot in the upper right corner for her first career goal and a 3-0 lead at 67:42.

Sturans made it 4-0 when she lofted a tough-angle shot from the right flank inside the left-side netting at 79:20.

Less than a minute later, Colleen Kinsella played a perfect pass to Competiello on the right wing where she beat the keeper to give the Cougars a 5-0 lead at 80:00.

The Cougars will take on another regionally-ranked opponent when they host Cortland, Wednesday at 7:00.

Coach Stauffer's Comments: "After we got the first goal tonight, I thought we slowed down our pace of play a little bit for the remainder of the first half.  I was happy to see us make a few adjustments going into the second half and I thought we were a different team, much better going forward and more creative in our attack. We also did a much better job of getting our wing backs involved and forward, which helped us keep the pressure on for the second 45, which helped us create better chances overall, which resulted in four second-half goals. We got some really good minutes from our reserve group tonight, which was great to see as well."