The seventh-ranked Misericordia University women's soccer team opened its 2025 season with a strong 2-0 victory over Susquehanna, Friday night at Mangelsdorf Field. This marks the 14th consecutive season MU has opened its season with a win, dating back to 2012.
Lily Heistand opened the scoring in the 57th minute of play on a feed from
Alyssa Steenback to give the Cougars a 1-0 advantage. Caelen Gallagher doubled Misericordia's lead in the 68th minute to put the match out of the River Hawks' reach.
Esabella Mendola gave MU its first scoring opportunity of the night five minutes into the contest, sending a ball to the lower right corner of the goal from close range that was turned aside by the goalkeeper.
Olivia Maniskas delivered another quality scoring chance in the 23rd minute, firing a shot from the top of the box that forced Susquehanna's keeper to make a leaping save.
The Cougars dictated the pace of play with strong offensive pressure throughout the majority of the first half, trapping the River Hawks in their own zone for roughly three straight minutes.
In the 30th minute,
Addysen Fitzgerald put an attempt just underneath the crossbar that was punched away to keep the score level at 0-0.
MU goalkeeper
Lauren Mondor received her first test of the evening with just over a minute left in the first half, tracking a ball that was sent through traffic and scooping it up to make the save.
As the first half came to a close, the match remained scoreless. Misericordia tallied 11 shots to Susquehanna's one.
E. Mendola opened the second half with a flurry of offensive opportunities, putting four balls towards the net between the 51st and 55th minutes of action. Despite her efforts, the Cougars still remained unable to crack the River Hawk goal.
Following a turnover off of an SU goal kick, Steenback threaded a ball to Heistand immediately before meeting a defender. Heistand charged towards goal and sent a laser past the keeper's left shoulder to give Misericordia a 1-0 lead at 56:59.
The Cougars continued to pressure Susquehanna in its own zone, causing a clear attempt to deflect off an MU attacker and sail towards the River Hawk goal. The ball skimmed the crossbar and landed right on the boot of Gallagher, who buried her shot to the back of the net. Gallagher's first collegiate goal came at 67:47 and put MU in the driver's seat with a 2-0 advantage.
Mondor was challenged once more in the 84th minute of the contest, turning aside a Susquehanna shot from the left side of the box.
Misericordia continued to control the pace of play for the remainder of the match and came away with the 2-0 victory.
Maniskas led the team with six shots on goal, followed by Heistand, E. Mendola and
Samantha Bardonner who all registered two.
The Cougars hit the road for the first time in the 2025 campaign, visiting Washington College (Md.), Sunday at 5:00.
