Playing on a blustery Halloween night, the Misericordia University men's soccer team treated itself to a thrilling 3-2 win over Lebanon Valley.

The Cougars moved into a tie for second place in the MAC Freedom while keeping their postseason hopes alive and handing the Dutchmen their first league loss of the season.

Shane Macko, Reese Dieffenderfer and Kohen Stiles all scored as the Cougars ended the regular season at 8-6-4 overall and 3-2-2 in the MAC Freedom.

The Cougars took an early lead on just their second shot of the game when Spencer Pisani played a beautiful over the top from 30 yards out and Shane Macko headed inside the right post from eight yards out at 16:54.

MU nearly doubled its lead five minutes later when Pisani played a ball to Max Jamieson the right flank.  Jamieson's centering pass was punched out by the Leb Val keeper and Elijah Uray's rip from 20 yards was just over the crossbar.

Macko threatened again late in the first half when he received a ball from Pisani in the middle of the box, turned and struck a shot that was just wide of the right post.

Dieffenderfer made it 2-0 when he dribbled to the top left corner of the box, beat two defenders and lofted a shot inside the right post at 41:40.

The Cougars appeared headed to intermission with the most dangerous lead in soccer, but the Dutchmen punched in a rebound in the 45^th minute to cut the lead in half.

Lebanon Valley nearly pulled even early in the second half, but Jannotte tipped a shot off the crossbar at 47:31.

The Cougars added a much-needed insurance goal in the 55^th minute when Macko's shot in front was cleared off the line, but Stiles stuffed home the rebound for a 3-1 lead at 54:15.

The Dutchmen threatened twice in a three-minute span midway through the second half.  After a floating shot caromed off the crossbar at 70:05, the Dutchmen's leading scorer had a breakaway, but Jannotte came off his line and made a sliding save at 72:23.

Lebanon Valley got back within a goal off a corner kick at 74:46.

The Dutchmen's last threat was easily handled near the right post by Jannotte in the 88^th minute.

Misericordia will await the outcomes of three Saturday matches to learn its postseason fate.