XML Box Score with Phil Naegely, GoMessiah.com reporter
Reading, PA – Messiah College moved to 4-0 in the Commonwealth Conference on Tuesday with a second-straight victory on the road.
Emily Bower,
Moriah Pfautz, and
Rachel Cox each caged a goal to defeat Albright as the team also extended their winning streak to six games.
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Messiah's first-half scoring opportunities were ample, but they failed to finish. In the first 20 minutes alone, Messiah recorded four penalty corners and ten shots with four being saved by Albright's goalie Marguerite DeLucas.
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Albright also found their own penalty corner opportunities, including three in a three-minute span, but Messiah's defense strongly guarded the circle and prevented the Lions from taking any shots.
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On Albright's final first-half corner at the 24:11 mark, Messiah transitioned the ball down the field and produced yet another scoring chance. Pfautz's slick stick work got her past the defender as her shot glided towards the cage and quickly bounced out. It sounded like the ball hit the cage's backside, but the referee, who had a perfect angle, signaled that it hit the left post.
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In the waning minutes of the first-half, Messiah barraged DeLucas with four shots, but her quick reflexes kept the ball from finding the cage.
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The first-half chances for Messiah foreshadowed what would come in the second-half.
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Out of the break, Albright earned an early penalty corner. Off the pass into the circle,
Molly Gebrosky made the save on the ball, but was whistled for covering up the ball, which earned Albright a penalty stroke. Samantha Martin stepped up to take the penalty stroke, but Gebrosky stood strong in her cage and guessed correctly to the left side.
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After the penalty stroke, Messiah retook control of the game's pace and possession. In the matter of ten minutes, Messiah scored three goals—all off penalty corners—and successfully capitalized in their offensive third.
Emily Bower's goal at the 49:24 mark was assisted by Gina Kellet to put Messiah up 1-0. Just 2:13 later,
Rachel Cox's sixth goal on the year doubled Messiah's lead.
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Before Messiah's fans could recover from celebrating two fast back-to-back goals, Pfautz redirected a shot from
Caroline Wulf to put Messiah up 3-0. With the goal, Pfautz now has 11 on the season and has scored at least one goal in each of the last three games.
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"The team did a nice job finding each other and creating scoring opportunities. We struggled to finish in the first-half," reflected Coach
Brooke Good on the team's performance. "However, in the second-half we made some adjustments and they paid off."
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With the win, Messiah improves to 10-2 and 4-0 in conference play, while Albright falls to 6-8 and 2-3 respectively. The Falcons' next game falls in conjunction with Homecoming Weekend when they take on Lebanon Valley College on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.