DALLAS, Pa. – A Nicolette Towlen (Ewing, NJ/Ewing) goal in the 29^th minute and a strong team defensive performance led the Wilkes University women's soccer team to a 1-0 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom road win at No. 18 Misericordia University Wednesday night.

Wilkes, ranked No. 10 in the United Soccer Coaches Mid-Atlantic Poll, improved its record to 10-2-2 overall and to 4-1-0 in the conference. Misericordia, the No. 18 team in the United Soccer Coaches National Poll and No. 3 in the region, fell to 11-3-2 overall and are 4-1-0 in conference after being handed its first MAC Freedom loss of the season.

Wilkes is now in a four-way tie with Misericordia, Eastern, and DeSales for the conference lead with all four teams sitting at 4-1-0 with two MAC Freedom games remaining.

The Lady Colonels struck for the game's only goal at the 28:15 mark when sophomore Jessica Egan (West Long Branch, NJ/Shore Regional) cleared the ball from the Wilkes' defensive end and senior Ema Sabovic (Brodheadsville, PA/Pleasant Valley) flicked it into space behind the Cougars defense from just shy of the middle field line. Towlen raced to the loose ball beating two Misericordia defenders into the right side of the box and shot it by the goalkeeper who was coming out to cut off the angle. It was the second goal of the season for Towlen and the eighth of the junior's career.

In the battle between the two statistically-best defensive teams in the conference it was Wilkes that came out on top and recorded its eighth shutout of the season. The defense kept Misericordia away from dangerous areas and when called upon junior goalkeeper Courtney Stanley (Yardville, NJ/Steinert) stood tall. At the 82:39 mark Stanley had the near post covered on a shot by Jackie Stevens. The defense would not allow another Misericordia shot in the final seven minutes of action.

Stanley made five saves to record her seventh shutout of the season which moved her into a tie for second in program history for shutouts in a season.

The win over conference power Misericordia was the second in the past three meetings. The Lady Colonels knocked the Cougars off in the MAC Freedom Semifinals in a shootout two years ago. The Cougars have won four of the past five conference championships.  

Next up for Wilkes is a Senior Day contest on Saturday, October 21 at Schmidt Stadium. The Lady Colonels will face fellow conference leader Eastern University at 4:30 p.m.