Samantha Bardonner scored a pair of goals as the sixth-ranked Misericordia University women's soccer team advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Ithaca, Sunday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

Bardonner scored her first two goals of the season and Emma Sweitzer added an insurance goal as the Cougars improved to 19-1-2.

MU will face Christopher Newport in the Sweet 16 at a site to be determined.

Bardonner gave the Cougars an early lead as they capitalized on their first corner of the game.  The service from the right corner was knocked around the box where Bardonner's volley from 22 yards out floated over the defense and dipped under the bar at 11:05.

Ithaca tied the score on a penalty kick at 37:40 and the score stood until late in the second half.

The Bombers had two quality scoring chances early in the second half.  A shot in the opening minute of the second half sailed just over the bar and MU's Lauren Mondor tipped a shot over the crossbar one minute later.

After thwarting the early pressure, MU countered with several dangerous chances.  Julia Beck's free kick from 30 yards out skimmed off the top of the crossbar at 48:55.

Sweitzer's tough-angle from the left flank caromed off the left post four minutes later.

The Cougars threatened another re-start when Beck bent a free kick from 25 yards that clanged off the crossbar at 57:22.

As Misericordia continued to apply pressure and controlled possession in the middle stages of the second half, Sweitzer split two defenders in the box to create space and ripped a shot from 15 yards out that was denied and the rebound attempt was cleared away.

Playing with a man-advantage over the final 23 minutes, the Cougars increased the offensive pressure.

With time winding down in regulation, Alyssa Steenback outran an Ithaca defender to win a loose ball deep in the box, but her point-blank shot was turned away in the 80^th minute.

Ithaca countered quickly for its best chance since early in the half with a blast from the top of the box, but Mondor was in position for the save.

As overtime loomed, the Cougars earned a throw-in on the right side deep in the offensive third.  Madison Brdaric beat a defender near the right corner flag and played the ball to the far post where Bardonner settled the ball and placed a shot inside the left post for a 2-1 lead at 81:28.

Sweitzer added an insurance goal when she dribbled down the middle, cut to her right and ripped a shot from 20 yards out just under the crossbar in the 89^th minute.