Ewing N.J. – The Messiah Falcon field hockey team lost another close game to a top-ranked opponent on Saturday night as they fell 1-0 to the No. 1 The College of New Jersey Lions. The Falcons and Lions played a scoreless 70 minutes in regulation to force overtime.
 
Just 4:31 into overtime the Lions found the back of the cage off a penalty corner. Taylor Barrett started the play by finding Lexi Smith off the corner. Smith then fired a shot on goal that was tipped by Barrett who had moved toward the goal mouth after passing the corner in. The 'golden goal' was Barrett's fourth goal of the season.
 
In regulation the Falcons outshot the Lions eight to seven and held an edge in shots on goal through the first 70 minutes (six to two) . Unfortunately for the Falcons none of their shots found the back of the cage.
 
Messiah best chance to score might have come in the first five minutes into the game. Off a penalty corner, Carissa Gehman fired a shot that got past TCNJ's goalie but Ally Pennypacker was there for the defensive save keeping the game scoreless.
 
On the night, Gehman led the offense with five shots, all of which went on frame.
 
In cage, Shelby Landes collected two saves and Shayna Landis collected a defensive save.
 
With the loss the Falcons fall to 2-4 on the season with all four of their losses coming to teams ranked in the top 15 in the country.
 
Messiah will next take the field on Wednesday when the Diplomats from Franklin and Marshall College travel to Anderson Field. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m