The Misericordia University men's soccer team suffered its first loss of the season in a hard-fought 2-1 defeat to Ithaca in a battle of regionally-ranked teams, Wednesday night at Mangelsdorf Field.

Misericordia entered the game ranked eighth in Region IV of the United Soccer Coaches poll while Ithaca was sixth in Region III.

The Cougars controlled possession early on, but neither team was able to generate any serious scoring threats in the opening minutes.

The Cougars took a 1-0 lead on an 'own goal' midway through the first half.

Ithaca pulled even five minutes later and netted the game-winner with 14 minutes remaining in the game.

Brody Eisenhart played a ball through the box from the right corner that was deflected by an Ithaca defender into the goal to put MU in front at 27:05.

The Bombers scored the tying goal at 32:49 and the score stood for the remainder of the half.

MU's Santino Jannotte made a leaping save to his left to thwart an Ithaca threat in the 57^th minute.

The Cougars earned a corner in the 65^th minute and Nicholas Passiniti's service was deflected over the crossbar by the Ithaca keeper.

Jannotte made another save near the left post in the 74th on a shot from 15 yards out to keep the score deadlocked.

After the Bombers went ahead in the 76^th minute, the Cougars turned up the offensive pressure. 

Anthony Numssen's shot from distance on a re-start floated just over the left corner of the goal in the 82^nd minute.

Passaniti's shot in the 86^th minute was just wide of the left post.

Misericordia earned a corner in the final minute, but Joshua Majekodunmi's shot in the box was blocked.