DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Delaware Valley women's lacrosse team hosted Misericordia for their first home MAC Freedom contest of the season falling to the Cougars 17-10. Ashley Birmingham led the Aggies with a team-high four goals.
 
The teams went goal for goal a minute apart in the first quarter with Kyra McKeegan setting up Abbie Hostetler to even the score, 1-1. The Cougars quickly mounted a three-goal run over the next 10 minutes to take a three-goal lead, 4-1. Back-to-back free position attempts put the Aggies in scoring position with Birmingham taking the shot to cut the deficit, 4-2. Misericordia answered back with one more to end the quarter and maintain its three-goal lead, 5-2.
 
A green card on Cougars' top scorer Delaney Campanella just over a minute into the second quarter put the Aggies on the attack. McKeegan set up the play once again this time finding the stick of Charley Lengel-Kramer for the goal, 5-3. A scoreless six minutes ensued before Campanella fired back quickly answered by Birmingham off the draw control, 7-4. With just six seconds until half, Hostetler lent a helping hand to Anna Kimbel for the goal leaving the Aggies trailing by just two, 7-5.
 
The Cougars held a 6-2 scoring edge over the Aggies coming out of the half. After two unanswered goals a green card left Misericordia outmanned giving the duo of McKeegan and Lengel-Kramer a chance to respond and cut the deficit to three, 9-6. Misericordia maintained its momentum with another three-goal run this time stuffed by Birmingham under the minute mark.
 
Misericordia used a four-goal run through the end of the third and 10 minutes into the fourth quarter to take a nine-goal lead, 16-7. Birmingham took the solo shot with 3:39 remaining to keep the deficit under double-digits. Foul trouble gave the Cougars a free shot at the net regaining its nine-goal lead, but the Aggies had the final say netting the last two goals in the final three minutes. McKeegan recorded her only goal of the game followed by Samantha Charles with the man-down goal at the buzzer.
 
McKeegan led the team in assists with three. Hostetler scooped up a team-high six ground balls and Birmingham tallied six draw controls. Emily Drake made nine saves on 26 shots faced.
 
DelVal is back in action this Saturday, Apr. 12 at Lebanon Valley for a noon start.