DALLAS, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley field hockey team outshot Misericordia University, but two third-quarter goals gave the host Cougars a 2-1 victory over the Dutchmen on Saturday at Mangelsdorf Field in Dallas. Junior Claire Weidenhammer scored conference-leading 15th goal of the season for the Dutchmen.
 
LVC (10-6, 3-2 MAC Freedom) didn't allow the Cougars (14-2, 5-0 MAC Freedom) to take a shot during the first half. Rebecca Lane took the first shot of the game in the second minute, which was saved by the Misericordia keeper. The Cougars had a pair of corners in the eighth and 10th minutes, which were successfully defended. LVC had its first penalty corner attempt in the 11th minute. They were unable to get a shot off on the attempt. A couple of minutes later, Weidenhammer nearly gave the Dutchmen the lead as her shot got past the keeper but was kept out of the back of the cage by a defender. The teams battled for possession in the second quarter, with a total of two shots taken during the 15 minutes of play. Lebanon Valley took both shots as Lane put a shot wide in the 19th minute, and then Jillian Tait had a shot saved in the 26th minute.
 
The Cougars came out strong to begin the second half as Ella Weidenhammer made her first save of the game in the 34th minute. Misericordia was awarded a penalty corner and was able to score off the corner to take a 1-0 lead. The Cougars doubled the lead three minutes later. The Dutchmen took the ball right down the field, and Weidenhammer had a shot saved 20 seconds after the goal. LVC earned a corner with Tait putting a shot wide. Misericordia had a pair of corners and took three shots over the next three minutes. Weidenhammer saved the first shot, the second shot was blocked, and the third shot went wide. Abby Rodenberger nearly scored in the closing moments of the quarter as her shot was saved.
 
The Dutchmen pushed to begin the fourth quarter as Rodenberger put another shot on goal that was saved. LVC was able to cut the deficit in half in the 50th minute as Weidenhammer put in a rebound. The play began with Gracie Johnson inserting a corner. Lilah Shaub had a shot saved. Weidenhammer nearly scored as the Cougars made their second defensive save of the game. The junior then knocked in her own rebound. Misericordia was awarded a corner in the 52nd minute. Amelia Taube kept the deficit at one with her conference-leading sixth defensive save of the year. The Dutchmen pushed for the tying goal at the other end of the field with a pair of corners in the 55th minute. Johnson and Tait had shots saved before Lauren Foster had a shot blocked. Misericordia was able to keep the Dutchmen without a shot over the final five minutes to stay undefeated in conference play.
 
Inside the Box

• Claire Weidenhammer had a game-high four shots, with two being saved by defenders. She scored her 15th goal of the year and eighth in conference play. She has scored in each of the past four games.
• Tait had three shots and put two on goal.
• Ella Weidenhammer made three saves while facing five shots.
• The Dutchmen had a 14-9 shot advantage in the game and an 11-6 advantage in shots on goal.

Up Next
LVC heads into the final week of the regular season needing just one win to clinch a spot in the MAC Freedom Championships. They will face DeSales University on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m. in Center Valley. The winner of the game will earn the third seed in the conference tournament.

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