MADISON, N.J. -- The FDU-Florham field hockey team claimed their first Freedom Conference Championship by defeating Misericordia University 2-1 on Saturday afternoon at Robert T. Shields Field.

With the victory, the Devils (14-7, 6-1 Freedom) earned their first NCAA Field Hockey Tournament bid since 1986 and the third in the program's 36-year history.

FDU-Florham senior midfielder Niki Ikeda (Lawrence, N.J.) was named Freedom Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player after totaling two game-winning goals in the tournament. Earlier this week, Ikeda was tabbed Freedom Conference Field Hockey Offensive Player of the Year. 

The Devils jumped out to a 1-0 lead when they were awarded a penalty stroke 7:11 into play. Sophomore forward Kim Davis (Long Branch, N.J.) buried her shot into the left side of the cage for her 12th goal of the season.

The Cougars (13-8, 5-2 Freedom) immediately responded by pressuring the Devils on the other end of the field and earned two penalty corners. Misericordia senior forward Hannah Harvey slapped two shots off of Devils goalkeeper Amy Defnet (Poolesville, Md.) and Lindsay Hischak rebounded the second attempt into the back of the cage, which evened the score at one-goal aside. 

In the 26th minute, Devils freshman forward Jodie Crtuchley (Ewing, N.J.) nearly put FDU-Florham in front, however, Misericordia's Samantha Partington came up clutch with a defensive save.. The Cougars held a narrow 7-5 shot advantage in the first stanza and the game entered the break knotted at 1-1

FDU-Florham took charge in the second half and earned eight penalty corners, while firing seven shots. In the 51st minute, the Devils' pressure paid off. After earning a penalty corner, Davis advanced to the right side of the cage and sent a mid-air pass to Ikeda, who promptly smacked the ball past Cougars goalkeeper Angela Pasquini for the game's decisive goal.

The Devils defense took control from there and limited the Cougars to only one shot attempt over the remainder of the game. 

In the win, Defnet made six saves and received outstanding defensive support from her backline mates Lauren Brannan (Orefield, Pa.), Erin O'Connell (Linwood, N.J.), Katelin Leibner (Freehold, N.J.) and Nicole Hall (Collingswood, N.J.)

Next up for the Devils:
FDU-Florham will gear up for the opening round of the NCAA Field Hockey Tournament with opponent and site to be determined.