Lancaster, PA - Carissa Gehman scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, to propel the No. 2 Messiah field hockey team to a crucial road victory over No. 6 Franklin & Marshall.

Gehman's first goal tied the game at one five minutes before halftime and Taylor Holt scored just two minutes into the second-half to give the Falcons the lead until the Diplomats' Nicole Bodo evened the game at two with five minutes to play.
 
Just two minutes into the extra period, Gehman and Nicole Wilkerson executed a perfect two-on-two break. Gehman hit Wilkerson with a pass to draw the defenders away, and sprinted forward to accept the return pass and knock in the game-winner.
 
With the victory, Messiah improved to 6-1 on the season and 6-0 against Division III competition, including four victories over NFHCA Top-10 teams. F&M fell to 4-2 on the year.
 
The Diplomats got on the board early, as they gained a penalty corner that was knocked around inside the circle and fell to Sydney Cole, who tapped it inside the left post. Messiah very nearly answered just three minutes later, when Moriah Pfautz took the ball at midfield and raced down the right side all the way to the circle. However, her shot was sent straight at Diplomat goalkeeper Ilianna Santangelo, who knocked it away with ease.
 
That would be the Falcons' only shot until the 30th minute. Wilkerson found Gehman on the left side, and Gehman fired a low liner just past the left post for the equalizer.
 
In the half, Messiah had just the two shots (two on goal) and F&M registered five shots (four on goal). The Diplomats had two corners to the Falcons' zero, but Landes had the advantage over Santangelo in goal with three saves to one.
 
The halftime pep talk must have been inspiring, because Messiah wasted no time in gaining the lead over the Diplomats. Less than two minutes in, Gehman took a shot that was blocked by a defender and fell in front of the cage. Holt was in the right place at the right time, as she collected the rebound and sent it in to put the Falcons up 2-1.
 
Messiah again put the pressure on Santangelo six minutes later, as a Pfautz shot was saved and knocked down to Gehman, who spun and sent a roller just wide of the right post.
 
The Diplomats would not go away, as between the 53rd and 54th minutes, they strung together four shots that all had to be saved or blocked by the Falcons. Landes knocked away two, one was blocked, and Hannah Roland made a defensive save on the other.
 
F&M's pressure finally succeeded in the 66th minute, when after two consecutive penalty corners Bodo was able to find the back of the cage.
 
Gehman's game-winner just into the overtime period sealed the win for the Falcons, and upped her team and conference-leading goal tally to 11.
 
Messiah was outshot by F&M 13-8 (8-5 on goal). The Diplomats also held a significant advantage on penalty corners of seven to one. Landes was strong in goal, turning away five shots, each one coming at critical junctures in the game.

Gehman totaled four shots in the contest, with two on goal that resulted in her two scores. Holt's tally was her fourth on the year, and Wilkerson chipped in two assists, giving her the team lead with four on the season.
 
Messiah looks to push their win streak to seven as they begin conference play on Saturday, hosting Stevenson University on Anderson Field at 1:00 p.m.