DALLAS, Pa. (October 31, 2018) – The FDU-Florham women's soccer team came up just short against No. 9 Misericordia, falling 2-1 in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Semifinals match Wednesday.
The No. 4 seeded Devils dropped to 12-6-2 on the season, while No. 1 seeded Misericordia moves on to face No. 2 Wilkes at 5 p.m. in the MAC Freedom Championship game Saturday.
Sophomore
Ashley Paulino kept the score at zero making four saves in the first 30 minutes. Her best of the sequence came in the 29
th minute, robbing Kristen Ritter off a corner kick. The Devils didn't record their first shot of the night until the 35
th minute, when junior
Erika Pita had a shot stopped.
The Devils broke through for the lone goal of the first half with 1:20 left in the stanza. Sophomore
Tatiana Nieto sprung Pita on a breakaway, and Pita chipped the keeper for her team-leading 11
th goal of the season. Nieto notched her 12
th assist on the play.
The Cougars needed just 1:24 into the second half to level the game. Ashley Edgell fed Hannah Larkin, who came in on a breakaway and beat Paulino just below the crossbar. FDU's best chance in the opening part of the second half came in the 55
th minute, as sophomore
Amanda Croce's attempt was snared by the Misericordia goalie.
Misericordia broke the deadlock in the 65
th minute. Off a corner kick, the ball caromed out to Michaela Fasolino. Fasolino fired a shot from the top of the box past Paulino to give the Cougars their first lead of the night.
The Devils frantically looked for the game-tying goal over the last few minutes. With 14:25 remaining, Pita looked to have a golden opportunity, but the ball was cleared off the line by a Misericordia defender. FDU was awarded a corner kick with 18 seconds remaining, but the final shot of the night went over the bar with two seconds left.
Paulino made six saves in the setback, while Pita led the way with three shot attempts.
The Devils will wait to see if they will be participating in the ECAC Tournament, which will be announced on Monday afternoon.
