MADISON, N.J. -- The FDU-Florham field hockey team fell to the Misericordia University Cougars 3-1 on Sunday in the team's first Freedom Conference contest of the season.

Despite outshooting the Cougars (4-5, 1-0 Freedom) 13-6 in the game, the Devils (5-4, 0-1 Freedom) struggled to find the back of the cage and were only able to produce the single goal.

In the 28th minute, Misericordia freshman Megan Yeager netted her first career goal when she fired home a strike off of a penalty stroke to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. The Cougars' strike equated to the only goal of the opening stanza.

Early in the second half, the Devils evened the score when sophomore Noelle Shirey (Pine Beach, N.J./Toms River South) found the back of the cage for her first goal of 2014. Shirey's goal came courtesy of an excellent setup by senior Niki Ikeda (Lawrence, N.J./Lawrence).

The Cougars regained the lead in the 48th minute, as senior forward Hannah Harvey slapped a shot past FDU-Florham goalkeeper Amy Defnet (Poolesville, Md./Poolesville). Harvey's strike began with a penalty corner and she knocked home the feed from Colby Eldridge.

Gabby Allen (Glassboro, N.J./Eastern) nearly tied the game in the 52nd minute, however, Misericordia freshman defender Megan Meckling preserved the one-goal lead by making a crucial defensive save on the goaline. Less than a minute later, the Cougars added an insurance goal when Jennifer O'Neill tipped in a pass from teammate Emily Hegner, which iced the game for Misericordia.

Defnet made four stops in the game, while Misericordia keeper Angela Pasquini excelled in net for the Cougars and turned away eight shots. In the loss, Ikeda picked up her second assist of the campaign, which ranks second on the team.

Next up for the Devils:
FDU-Florham hosts Kean University this Tuesday, September 30th with start time slated for 7 p.m. at Robert T. Shields Field.