The number 13 nationally-ranked Misericordia University women's soccer team continued its strong start to the conference schedule with a 1-0 win over Stevens, Saturday afternoon at Mangelsdorf Field.

The lone goal of the contest came from Esabella Mendola with an assist from Samantha Bardonner as the Cougars improved to 9-2-1 overall and 2-0 in the MAC Freedom.

Misericordia put early pressure on the Ducks, sending two shots towards the net in the first seven minutes of the game.

Olivia Maniskas shot a ball low was smothered by the goalkeeper at 2:09. Lily Heistand was on a breakaway, but her shot hit the Stevens goalkeeper in the chest and was covered for the save at 6:30.

The Cougars broke through a few minutes later when Bardonner received the ball and passed it to Mendola on the left wing.  She dribbled into to the box and unleashed a strike that deflected off the keeper and into the net to give Misericordia the lead at 13:46.

Misericordia saw two more chances at the end of the first half. MK Peters received a ball at 37:31 and lifted a shot just over the top of the crossbar. Minutes later Ella Cipriani's shot was just wide of the net at 43:53 and the Cougars a 1-0 lead into halftime.

MU started off the second half with back-to-back chances. Heistand passed the ball back towards Caelan Gallagher who floated a shot that hit the top crossbar at 52:17. Bardonner headed the rebound, but it was just over the top of the goal.

The Cougars earned another great chance as Gallagher found Heistand in the box, but her shot was denied on a diving save at 58:22.

Minutes later, Gallagher again found herself ahead of the Ducks defenders, but this time her shot was smothered on the ground by the Ducks goalkeeper.

Larissa Evans knocked the ball away from a Stevens attacker to thwart the Ducks' best chance of the afternoon in the 74^th minute.

Lauren Mondor stopped the only shot she faced in goal.

The Cougars will take on York, Wednesday at Mangelsdorf Field.