Box Score MADISON, N.J. –The FDU-Florham Devils women's lacrosse team dropped their first Freedom Conference game since the 2011 season,  by falling 13-12 to Misericordia University at Robert T. Shields Field on Wednesday afternoon.

With 14 seconds left, the Devils (3-8, 0-1 Freedom) had a chance to even the score but Courtney Rendinaro's (Hillsborough, N.J./Hillsborough) free position shot was stopped by Cougar goalkeeper Katie Mcloughlin and Misericordia sealed the victory.

Devils freshman Joelle Manganella (Kenvil, N.J./Roxbury) totaled four goals and one draw control in the loss, while Misericordia junior Melina Juliano led the Cougars with five goals, seven draw controls, and four ground balls in the win.

After the two teams exchanged goals, the Cougars (4-6, 1-0 Freedom) rattled off three-straight scores to claim a 4-1 lead. FDU-Florham freshmen Brienna Reasoner (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) and Manganella tallied back-to-back goals to bring the Devils within one with 15:15 to play in the first half.  Seventeen seconds later, Juliano struck for her second goal of the afternoon, which gave the Cougars a 5-3 lead.

With 11:11 to play in the half, freshman midfielder Frances Maggio (Bound Brook, N.J./Bridgewater) found Manganella cutting to the net and Manganella promptly fired home a shot to get the Devils back within one. Next, Maggio broke free for her fourth goal of the season, which tied the game, and three minutes later FDU-Florham junior defender Caitlyn McGinley (Mount Laurel, N.J./Camden Catholic) gave the Devils the lead.

Unfortunately, the Cougars netted the final two scores of the half and entered the break with a 7-6 lead. The halftime statistics were nearly identical except for FDU-Florham's 16-12 shot advantage.

Nearly eight minutes into the second half, FDU-Florham junior Dana Amorosi (Deptford, N.J./Gloucester Catholic) tied the game with an unassisted goal. Manganella took back the lead for the Devils by firing home an assist from Rendinaro with 20:36 to play.

Trailing 8-7, the Cougars received a huge lift from Juliano, who scored three-straight goals over four minutes, which gave Misericordia a 10-8 lead. With the Cougars leading 11-9, the Devils got back to work. Reasoner and McGinley scored within 30 seconds of each other and with 5:45 to play Rendinaro put the Devils back on top again at 12-11. The goal was Rendinaro's team-leading 31^st of the season.

However, the Cougars netted the final two goals of the game and Mcloughlin's save secured the win as time expired. Misericordia junior Emily Hegner was responsible for the decisive goal, which was her lone score of the day.

The loss snaps an 18-game in-conference winning streak for the Devils. Reasoner totaled two goals, six ground balls, and two controls, while playing excellent defense and causing four turnovers in the contest.

Next up for the Devils:
FDU-Florham continues their two-game home stand when they take on Eastern University this Saturday, April 5^th at 1 p.m.