The visiting Wildcats (6-7-3, 4-5-3 AMC) wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as Alicia Vasiloff picked up a loose ball from the MVNU defense and ripped a shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead just 1:06 into the match.

The Lady Cougars (9-6-1, 7-3-1 AMC) knotted the score at 1-1 in the 28th minute when freshman midfielder Amanda Woods crossed a ball to sophomore forward Jessica Estep (left), who fired it home for her 14th goal of the season.

Eight minutes later, senior midfielder Erin Miller gave MVNU a 2-1 lead when she played a corner kick short to freshman forward Sarah Buehler, who tapped the ball back to Miller. Miller sent a bending shot towards the goal that Daemen goalkeeper Joanna Daugenti caught but carried across the goal line to put the Lady Cougars on top. The goal was Miller’s third of the season.

The score remained that way until the second half when freshman midfielder Courtney Ricker extended the lead to 3-1 in the 56th minute with her third goal of the season. Estep and senior forward Page Miller were both credited with an assist on the play.

Ten minutes later, Estep scored again when she knocked in a loose ball in the box for a 4-1 advantage. The goal was Estep’s team-leading 15th of the season and the 37th of her young career.

Daemen pulled within 4-2 in the 72nd minute when Jenelle Masi scored on a direct kick from just outside the box. However, that would prove to be the final margin as MVNU was able to hold off the Wildcats the rest of the way.

The Lady Cougars held a 20-11 lead in total shots, a 12-4 edge in shots on goal, and an 8-1 margin in corner kicks. Sophomore goalkeeper Jenessa Loewen posted two saves for MVNU, while Daugenti stopped seven shots for the Wildcats, who had one non-goalie save on a header by Estep.

“I was disappointed in the way that we started this match,” said MVNU coach Jonathan Meade. “We have been a bit slow in getting started and we keep talking about playing hard for all 90 minutes. However, we did not panic after giving up the early goal and we came back and played well especially in the second half. The great thing is that this team still has a great opportunity to peak at the right time as I know that we are still capable of playing better.”

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Wednesday when MVNU will travel to Malone University for an important AMC match that will kick off at 3:30 p.m.