The number one nationally ranked Misericordia University women's soccer team clinched a berth in the NCAA Tournament with an impressive 5-2 win over Stevens in the MAC Freedom Championship match, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

Tournament MVP Emma Sweitzer had a hat trick to break her own school single-season scoring record and Michaela Fasolino had a pair of goals as the Cougars improved to 18-0-1.

After several near-misses in the early-going, the Cougars scored twice in a two-minute span midway through the first half and led the rest of the way.

From the left edge of the box, Sweitzer played a ball to Fasolino near the 18 where she fired a shot into the left corner for a 1-0 lead at 23:11.

Colleen Kinsella played a long ball to Kaylee Sturans down the right side where she drew two defenders before sending a diagonal ball to Sweitzer on the left side of the frame where she placed a shot back across in side the right post for a 2-0 lead at 24:48.

Stevens quickly countered with a goal in the upper right corner from 12 yards out to cut the margin in half at 25:14.

The Cougars countered late in the half when a free kick from Zoee Farr on the left wing deflected off a defender in front to Fasolino who buried a shot inside the left post for a 3-1 lead at 43:07.

Neither team managed any dangerous opportunities early in the second half, but the Ducks got back in the match with a penalty kick at 68:34.

Sweitzer and the Cougars added a pair of insurance goals in the final 10 minutes.

Julia Beck played a lofted ball from 30 yards out on the right flank and Sweitzer beat the keeper to the ball and one-time the ball into an empty net for a 4-2 lead at 82:50.

Sturans beat her defender on the right side of the box and served a ball to Sweitzer, who was alone in front and finished from eight yards out to give MU a 5-2 advantage at 85:51.

MU applied heavy pressure in the opening minutes and created several good chances.

Sweitzer rolled a diagonal pass for Sturans near the right post, but the Ducks keeper came off her line to win the ball in the second minute.

Sweitzer tried to play ball in front from the left end line in the third minute, but a Stevens defender cleared the threat near the left post in the third minute.

Kinsella beat a defender at the top of the box to create a one-v-one in the fourth minute, but the Ducks keeper came of her line to win the ball.

Sturans' corner kick in the fifth minute created the game's first shot, but Zoee Farr's volley from 20 yards out was wide left.

Under heavy pressure from MU, Stevens didn't possess the ball across midfield until the eighth minute.

The Ducks got their first shot in the 10^th minute, but it was wide left from 25 yards out.

Sweitzer (23g, 16a) tied her own school record for goals and broke her own mark for single-season points with 62.

Madi Welliver made three saves in goal.

The Cougars will open the NCAA Tournament, Saturday, November 12.

Coach Stauffer's Comments:  I thought we started off the match really well today by keeping possession and keeping them pinned in their final third.  It was important for us to get those two goals early.  They are extremely well-coached and put their numbers where they needed to be to make us defend and work the entire match.  I Couldn't be prouder of our girls though and how they solved things defensively and still found the goals late to close things out!