Box Score
Grantham, PA – The no. 2 ranked Salisbury University Sea Gulls (6-0) scored three goals in the first half, and four in all, en route to defeating the no. 4 ranked Messiah College Falcons (4-1) on Anderson Field Saturday. The Falcons had plenty of chances early on but couldn't get it going, falling behind 3-0 through the game's first 35 minutes of play.
For many, a three-goal loss by a Messiah field hockey team may come as a surprise.
Losing by large margins isn't something that the Falcons have been accustomed to in recent history. It had been 99 games since the last loss suffered by a Messiah team by three or more goals, a 3-0 loss on September 28, 2007 to this same Salisbury team.
Scoring goals, however, is what the Sea Gulls do. Through five games, the Gulls had scored 30 goals by 10 different players. Messiah's defense had been allowing just 0.25 goals per game through their first four. Something had to give.
“We wanted to come out early and get on the board,” coach
Brooke Good said. “We knew if we could break through early we would have a great shot to win- unfortunately, that didn't happen today.”
The game started upbeat and fast paced, as expected by two top-5 teams in the nation. The Falcons seemed to control the game flow early, getting numerous opportunities to cash in and put the Falcons ahead on the scoreboard.
Just five minutes into the game, the Falcons found the back of the opponent cage and turned to celebrate a 1-0 lead. However, the goal was nullified by what appeared to be an illegal touch from a Falcons player.
Just two minutes later, in the 7th minute, the Falcons were awarded a penalty corner. Senior
Juliana Hershey sent a pass to classmate
Natalie Ziegler at the top of the circle. Ziegler slapped a shot towards the Seagull net, just missing the goal to the right.
Still, the Falcons turned up the pressure. The Falcons held the majority of possession opportunities in the game's opening 10 minutes of play, forcing the Sea Gulls to pack it in defensively.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, the tides seemed to turn in just an instant. A pressing Seagull offense drew a penalty corner in the 24th minute, a reoccurring theme in Saturday's matchup. The corner, taken by the Gulls Melissa Slocum, came to Amber Holland who sent a quick pass back to Slocum for the shot and goal, just under the outstretched pad of Falcons' goalkeeper
Molly Gebrosky.
The Falcons showed some resiliency, however- trailing in a contest was unchartered territory for them in this young season.
Hershey quickly led the Falcons on another push. Clewer made one of her three saves on the day on a Hershey shot at the 12:28 into play in the first, while a shot just seconds later bounced off the outside of the post.
The Falcons fell victim to another opportunity on the penalty corners by the Gulls. This time a shot from the top of the circle was deflected to the corner of the goal for a 2-0 Salisbury lead.
“We didn't want to fall behind early,” said Good. “We knew they would be tough to score on but I told my girls that we could still go out there and score as many goals as we would need as long as we worked for it.”
“It was great to see us get a goal in the second half,” Good added, referencing the goal from Julian Hershey in the 50
th minute. “We were hoping that would get us some momentum. Unfortunately, we gave up another quick goal and it ultimately led to a loss.”
Juliana Hershey scored the team's lone goal mid way through the second stanza. Classmate
Kelly Martin was credited with the assist.
Four different players scored the Sea Gulls' goals, and senior Amber Holland picked up two assists. Sophomore goalkeeper Rachel Clewer made three saves for Salisbury.
The Falcons will try to regroup as another tough opponent looms ahead. The Falcons will travel to Haverford College on Thursday September 20. Game time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
