The #11 nationally-ranked Misericordia University women's soccer team opened its MAC Freedom schedule with a convincing 5-0 win at FDU-Florham, Saturday.

The Cougars showed their balance as five different players scored goals, including two players who notched their first career goals.

MU also flexed its collective defensive muscle as it limited FDU-Florham two just two shots on goal and didn't allow a corner.

Kaleigh Horos, Caelan Gallagher, Olivia Maniskas, Brenna Field and Joyce Lopez all scored for MU with Horos and Lopez both finding the back of the net for the first time.

Despite a dominant first half, the Cougars led just 1-0 at intermission thanks to Horos' goal at 41:16.

Misericordia put the game away with four goals in an 18-minute span in the second half.

Gallagher made it 2-0 at 64:27 and Maniskas and Field scored less than two minutes apart to make it 4-0 at 73:10.

Lopez closed out the scoring at 82:30.

Lauren Mondor and Madison Miller made one save each to post the shutout as the Cougars improved to 8-2-1.

With time winding down in the first half, MK Peters service on a penalty corner found Horos who headed the ball down for the first goal of the game.

Nearly 20 minutes into the second half, Alyssa Steenback's chip shot from the right edge of the box ricocheted off the left post.  She collected the rebound and found Gallagher whose one-time beat the diving Devils keeper inside the right post to make it 2-0 at 64:27.
Maniskas dribbled along the top of the box and fired a shot between two defenders into the upper right corner for a 3-0 lead at 71:42.

Field's corner kick deflected off the fingertips of the leaping Devils keeper to give MU a 4-0 lead less than two minutes later.

The FDU-Florham keeper came off her line to deflect a centering pass and Lopez rolled a shot past a defender into the empty net from 15 yards out to provide the final margin at 82:30.