DALLAS, PA –   A late fourth quarter goal lifted Misericordia over the Wilkes University field hockey team in a tight 1-0 non-conference game Thursday night at Mangelsdorf Field.

With the loss, Wilkes dropped to 3-2 on the season. Misericordia improved to 2-3.
 
Wilkes' defense was put to work early on as Misericordia opened play with a series of shots and corner strokes. The Colonels' stood tall, blocking numerous shots and picking up a pair of timely saves from goalkeeper Carly Eidle (East Greenville, PA/Upper Perkiomen).
 
After the early pressure from the Cougars, play settled down for the remainder of the first quarter.  The first 15 minutes with both teams were still in search of the game's first goal. Misericordia outshot Wilkes 2-0.
 
Both teams struggled to maintain possession in the second quarter and play was mostly contained to the center of the field. Wilkes finally managed to sustain pressure against the Misericordia defense inside the final three minutes of play in the half, but were unable to convert on their chances. The Colonels went into halftime deadlocked in a scoreless contest. The Cougars were awarded six corner strokes to the Colonels' one and outshot Wilkes 3-1.
 
The second half picked up where the first left off; both teams used aggressive forechecking to break up plays and keep the game scoreless.
 
Wilkes found some momentum in the 11th minute of the third quarter and drew two consecutive corner strokes. The Colonels generated solid scoring chances but were continuously frustrated by the Misericordia defense, who blocked shots on each corner attempt. Entering the final frame, the game remained knotted at 0-0.
 
The Cougars and Colonels continued to do a tremendous job stifling each others' corner attempts in the fourth quarter. Eidle kept Wilkes in the game by making three saves amid a scramble in front of her net with less than eight minutes remaining.
 
Misericordia finally broke the scoreless tie at 56:13 when Meghan Radnoff gathered a pass from Morgan Walsh and buried it past Eidle to make it 1-0 Cougars with under four minutes remaining in the contest. The Cougars maintained their lead for the remainder of the game and captured the win by a score of 1-0.
 
Eidle made seven total saves on the night while Cortney Keim (Trevorton, PA/Line Mountain) was credited with three defenisve saves as well. Olivia Gayoski (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) recorded a shot on goal for the Colonels.
 
Radnoff and Lily Metress both registered five shots on goal and Sarah Bogina earned the shutout for Misericordia.
 
The Colonels wrap up their road trip with a game at Goucher College Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The game will mark the first competition for Wilkes within the Landmark Conference across all of its athletics programs.