CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Cortland women's soccer team scored goals less than 11 minutes apart in the second half and held on for a 2-1 win versus nationally 15th-ranked Misericordia in non-conference action Wednesday night at Holloway Field. The Red Dragons improved to 4-2-1. The Cougars dropped to 4-3.

Senior Simone Neivel (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) led Cortland with a goal and an assist. Senior Liz Allen (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury) also netted a goal. Junior goalie Kristen Spendal (Dumont, NJ) turned aside nine shots.

Senior Emma Sweitzer (Dallas, PA) tallied the goal for Misericordia. Junior goalie Emma Stroud (Sweet Valley, PA/Lake-Lehman) registered three saves.

In the first half, the Cougars carried most of the action, outshooting Cortland, 9-4. Spendal made six of her saves in the opening 45 minutes, including a stop on senior Colleen Kinsella (Monroe/Monroe-Woodbury), tipping her bending 25-yard shot over the crossbar in the 40th minute to keep the game scoreless.

The Red Dragons generated the first two scoring chances in the second half, but Stroud made back-to-back saves on sophomore Katie Rowan (Newtown, CT) and freshman Tyla Vuotto (Lynbrook) in the 46th minute. The Cougars nearly took the lead in the 62nd minute on a long shot from sophomore Brenna Field (Burlington, NJ) that forced Spendal to make a leaping save at the top left corner.

Allen broke the scoreless tie in the 66th minute. Neivel fed a pass through the Cougar defense that Allen ran onto and beat Stroud with a shot inside the right post on a breakaway. In the 77th minute, Neivel made it a 2-0 score, drilling a 25-yard shot inside the right post on a loose ball. Misericordia turned up the pressure, which eventually paid off with a penalty kick with six minutes remaining that Sweitzer converted. The Cougars continued to press for the equalizer, but Cortland was able to prevent a quality chance in the closing minutes to seal the 2-1 victory.

Cortland 2, Misericordia 1

Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Misericordia: Emma Sweitzer 1-0
Cortland: Simone Neivel 1-1, Liz Allen 1-0

Halftime: Cortland 0, Misericordia 0
Shots: Misericordia 22, Cortland 11
Corner Kicks: Misericordia 9, Cortland 4
Fouls: Cortland 8, Misericordia 5
Saves: Emma Stroud (Misericordia) 3 saves (2 GA in 90:00); Kristen Spendal (Cortland) 9 saves (1 GA in 90:00)

Record after game: Misericordia (Cougars) 4-3 (ranked 15th in Div. III); Cortland (Red Dragons) 4-2-1