GLENSIDE, Pa. - No. 1 Messiah field hockey soared to their 13th-straight victory to open the season, defeating the Knights of Arcadia University 3-0.
 
With the win, the Falcons improve to 13-0 on the year and 4-0 in the MAC Commonwealth. Arcadia falls to 8-7 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
 
Defense, Defense, Defense
As it has been throughout the season, the Messiah defense was spectacular Saturday afternoon as they earned their seventh shutout of the year. The Falcons also did not allow a single shot attempt for the third time this season. In their last seven games, Messiah has not allowed more than four shots in any contest, while averaging just over 28 shots per game on the offensive end during that same stretch.
 
Falcons Get On The Board
Karalyn Schmidt got the scoring started in the 20th minute with her second goal in as many games to give Messiah a 1-0 lead. Despite firing ten other shots towards Knight goalie Maya Stern during the opening period, Schmidt's tally was the only one that would find the cage before the halftime buzzer.
 
Gehman Adds Insurance
Suprisingly enough, Messiah's leading scorer Carissa Gehman did not have a shot attempt in the first-half. However, that would change in a hurry once the second period started, as Gehman scored off a pass from Kaylor Rosenberry in the 43rd minute to double the Falcon advantage.
 
Gehman was not done yet, as with 15 minutes remaining in the contest Messiah was knocking on the door for another score. This time it was Emily Schillinger with the feed to the senior, who put it away for her team-leading 24th goal of the season. Before today's game, Gehman was tied for first in the country with 1.83 goals per game, and will certainly remain among the leaders after her two-goal effort.
 
The forward has scored in all but two games this year, with multiple goals in eight of the 13, including each of the last six. Her 24 goals in 2017 already ties for eighth-most in a season in Messiah program history, with four regular-season games left followed by postseason play.
 
Next Up
Messiah returns home for the first time in two weeks on Wednesday, hosting Hood College at 6:00 p.m.