The Misericordia University men's soccer team played to a 1-1 stalemate in its nonconference matchup with Muhlenberg, Wednesday night at Mangelsdorf Field.
 
Patrick Sipera leveled the score in the 26th minute shortly after a free kick deep in the Mules' zone.
 
Muhlenberg opened the scoring on the first shot of the match to take a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.
 
The visitors continued their strong offensive start with two more shots on the MU goal in the 12th and 24th minutes, both of which were turned aside fairly easily by Misericordia goalkeeper Thomas D'Arco.
 
The Cougars found themselves with a golden scoring opportunity in the 26th minute, drawing a free kick just inches outside the penalty area. A crossed ball found its way into traffic and was played backwards by Noah Romig. Sipera stepped into a shot and blasted the ball past Muhlenberg's keeper to provide the equalizer. Romig picked up his first assist of the season on Sipera's 1-1 goal.
 
The Cougars continued to mount pressure on the Mules' defense, rattling off three shots in a 35 second span that were blocked or went over the crossbar.
 
Dylan Kostik nearly put MU on top in the 33rd minute after receiving a headed pass from Anthony Numssen, but a diving save by Muhlenberg's goalie kept the score deadlocked at 1-1.
 
Both squads headed into halftime looking for the go-ahead goal.
 
The Mules attempted to set the tone early in the second half with two shots in the first two and a half minutes, both of which were blocked by Cougar defenders.
 
With Muhlenberg pressing on the far side of D'Arco's net, the Misericordia keeper cut down the angle by hugging the post to make a save in the 50th minute.
 
Two minutes later, the Cougars' defense stood tall again as Spencer Pisani chased down a Mules attacker who had a clean look on goal and interrupted his shot.
 
MU nearly broke the tie with 10 minutes remaining when a long cross deflected off a body to Max Jamieson, whose header sailed just over the crossbar.
 
Jamieson almost factored into the breakthrough goal yet again in the 85th minute, heading a ball to Romig just outside the six-yard box. The midfielder delivered a one-touch shot to the right post that was batted away with a one-handed diving save by Muhlenberg's goalkeeper.
 
Neither team was able to come up with the match's third goal and the contest ended in a 1-1 tie after 90 minutes.
 
D'Arco finished the night with three saves in goal. Corbin Lankford, Sipera and Joshua Majekodunmi accounted for Misericordia's three shots on goal.
 
The Cougars return to Mangelsdorf Field for a matchup with York, Saturday at 2:30.