Box Score
Annville, PA - The Messiah College field hockey team accomplished something they had yet to do in the 2012 season- win after surrendering the first goal of the game.
The Falcons rallied from a 1-0 deficit late in the first half to Commonwealth conference foe Lebanon Valley College (5-5, 1-1 CC) off goals from sophomore
Heather Quirk and freshman
Rachel Cox for the win, 2-1.
As a result of some scrappy play by the first-year player, Cox found a rebound off the Dutchmen goalie from in front of the LVC cage and put home the game-winner at the 59:55 mark. The goal was Cox's third goal on the season and a second game-winner for the Falcons, who improved to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in Commonwealth play with the win.
The Falcons started the contest with high intensity and plenty of the pressure on the LVC defense but failed to tally due in part to the stout Dutchmen defense.
Despite the Falcons' edge in nearly every statistical category, the Dutchmen staved off the heavy Falcons' pressure and struck first to end a scoreless tie in the 23rd minute. LVC's Caitlin Vasey avoided a defender inside the Messiah circle and pounded home a shot off the far post and in for the 1-0 lead.
It wouldn't take the Falcons long to respond, however, as sophomore
Heather Quirk would strike for the Falcons less than three minutes later, emerging with the ball from a scrum and finding the back of the cage. Quirk's goal, her third of the season, knotted the game at one until Cox's goal late in the second half.
“We really worked on finishing our chances in practice (Friday) after F&M, just using those chances in front of the net to get more opportunities on goal,” first-year head coach
Brooke Good said following the game. “We just fought and fought to get the ball to the cage today and I think it really showed.”
It did.
The Falcons held a 22-7 shots advantage over the Dutchmen in the game, many of which came off the 15 penalty corners taken in the game, their highest mark of the season; LVC took just three. LVC's goalie Chloe Baro proved crucial to the Dutchmen's defense, stopping 11 shots for the hosts and keeping the game so close.
“I thought we could have scored more tonight,” Good said. “But, I've got to give credit to LVC- they always bring their 'A' game when we play them. I thought they played well and were extremely impressive on defense.”
The LVC defense held strong keeping the Falcons off the board for nearly 35 minutes until Cox's game winner late in the second.
“This was really just a great win for us as a team,” Good added of her team's performance. “I was excited to see our girls put what we had worked on in practice into the game and execute well- it is promising for us on down the road.”
After picking up a win following
Thursday's loss to Franklin & Marshall, the Falcons have not lost back-to-back games since the 2007 season when they lost to Rowan University and The College of New Jersey in consecutive games.
The Falcons get another break from conference play as they travel to Wayne, Pa., to face off against former MAC Conference foe Eastern College on Wednesday, October 3 before returning home to play Commonwealth newcomer Stevenson University on October 6.
