Reading, PA - The Falcons and Crusaders traded goals within the first five minutes of play and both teams added scores in the middle of the first half to take a 2-2 tie into the break. Both offenses went stagnant in the second half, until Carissa Gehman scored with 16 seconds left in regulation, giving the Falcons a 3-2 victory.

Just over a minute into the first half the Falcons stuck, when Moriah Pfautz scored her fourth goal of the season when she ripped a top shelf shot that beat the Crusaders goalie. After the early strike, it looked as if the Falcons would dominate play on the day. Unfortunately for the Falcons, the goal was not a sign of things to come. The Crusaders would even the score less than two minutes later when Paige Epler scored her first goal on the season.

With the score now tied just 2:52 into the game, the pace of play settled down. The Falcons had a chance from Lindsay Bower miss the cage wide left and the Crusaders have a shot blocked, but neither team found the cage for the next 12 minutes.

But, in the 16th minute with the Falcons on a breakaway Pfautz found Mattie Berger who beat the goalie for her first goal of the year, putting the Falcons up 2-1. Just as the Crusaders did at the beginning of the game, they would level the score.

Seven minutes later Carly Day saved a shot from the Crusaders but the rebound found the stick of a Alvernia attacker how put it in. Entering the half the Falcons and Crusaders were level at 2-2.

While the score was level at the intermission, the play was anything but. The Crusaders lead in shots (10-3), shots on goal (6-2), and Penalty Corners (7-1).

The second-half was a defensive battle. Only six shots were fired between the two teams throughout the 35-minute half. The play on the field was much more even throughout the second-half, and the score reflected it.

The two teams play scoreless hockey through the first 34:44 of the second half before Messiah found a game winner. Moriah Pfautz was on another breakaway when she found Carissa Gehman who beat the Alvernia goalie with just 16 seconds left in regulation.

The game-winner was the freshman's 14th goal of the year, but definitely her most dramatic.

While the Falcons had their lowest shot total in a game this season (five shots), every shot that was on frame resulted in a goal for the Falcons.

With the win, the Falcons move to 7-4 overall and 2-0 in the Commonwealth Conference. They next take the field Wednesday, Oct. 8th at 4:30 in Gettysburg, PA when they take on the Gettysburg College Bullets.