The saying goes: the higher the stage, the bigger the reward.

But that stage can also produce some of the toughest heartbreaks.

Unfortunately for the Misericordia University field hockey team, it experienced what it was like to go through the latter last season.

Junior defender Samantha Partington, a 2012 graduate of Northwestern High School, was a member of that Cougars team that came up a goal short to Wilkes University in overtime of the Freedom Conference championship game. It was the first time since 2008 that the Cougars qualified for the conference tournament.

With that season-ending loss still hanging over their heads, Partington and the Cougars geared up their offseason workout in hopes of replicating a similar season, but with a different outcome this time around.

"We always do a lot of work in the offseason," Partington said. "But this year we kind of stepped it up a little bit after this past season getting that championship taken away from us. It's something that hurt badly, so we all wanted it a little bit more than we normally do. We went that extra mile."

As of Tuesday, the Cougars are 3-2 on the young season, with Freedom Conference play set to begin at the end of the month. That's when the Cougars, which were picked to tie for second in the preseason rankings, will test if they're returning players are up for a second-consecutive playoff appearance.

"It was a lot of fun," Partington said of playing in the title game. "I've never experienced anything like it with the intensity and all of our passion that we had out on the field to want to win. It was a lot of fun to be there.

"We have a decent amount returning, and obviously one of our main goals is to get right back to that championship game and get what we lost."

Leading the Cougar defense is Partington, who started in all but one game last season and 15 in her first collegiate campaign. She was on the field for 1,140 minutes a year ago, and has played the second-most minutes through five contests.

The Cougars return junior goalkeeper Angela Pasquini, who started every game last season. However, a number of fresh faces are taking over in the back line. Partington is one of those returning defenders that will take on more of a leadership role this season.

"It's different being more of a role model because I don't have to just look for myself," Partington said. "I have to try to help guide them, too. They are good, and it's fun being with new girls and having that team bonding thing."

Through five games, the Cougars have allowed 2.2 goals per game.

"It's looking strong," Partington said of the defense. "There are always things that we can work on to improve, but the things that we have been doing good are looking really good."

As the Most Valuable Player on defense in her senior season at Northwestern, Partington's enjoyment of the game has been evident for years. That hasn't changed one bit as she moved onto the collegiate level.

"I always want to go out and try my hardest in games, and give my best that I can for my team," Partington said. "I honestly just play to have fun, and I've been having fun."

The Cougars host Catholic University on Saturday, and then travel to Haverford next Wednesday before league games start hitting the schedule. They'll start with FDU-Florham on Sunday, September 28.

Partington is majoring in health care management and pre-physical therapy.