GRANTHAM, Pa. – Four different Falcons scored in a dominant first-half and No. 1 Messiah field hockey held Widener to zero shots on goal in a 4-0 win on Homecoming Day. The win pushed the Falcons to 15-0 on the season, including 6-0 in the MAC Commonwealth. Widener, who entered tied with Alvernia for No. 2 in the conference, fell to both 10-5 overall and 4-2 in the conference.
Falcons On Top Early
It didn't take long for Messiah to find the back of the cage, as just eight minutes in,
Carissa Gehman sent a dangerous ball into a crowd in front of the goal.
Taylor Holt managed to get a stick on the ball, tipping it just past Pride goalie Sabrina Roberto to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead on just their third shot of the game. The tally was also a milestone for Holt, as the senior registered her 50th career goal.
Twice is Nice
Messiah's pressure did not let up, as the Falcons would score two goals in a span of less than a minute eight minutes later.
Nicole Wilkerson made it 2-0 with beautiful weave through defenders and flick shot up and over Roberto's stick. It was
Kristin Donohue's turn next, as she collected a loose ball in front of the cage and sent it home for her fourth goal of the season.
Gehman Gets In On The Fun
After adding an assist earlier,
Carissa Gehman would not let her consecutive games with a goal streak be snapped as she blasted in a feed from
Casie Stief that put Messiah up 4-0 with seven minutes left in the first-half. Gehman has now scored in 10 straight contests, and 13 of 15 on the year. She is now one goal away from 100 in her career, which would make the senior just the third player in Messiah field hockey history to do so.
Outstanding D
Messiah only allowed one shot by Widener all game, as Jordana Ambros sent an attempt wide late in the first-half. In the second period, the Pride only managed to get on the Messiah defensive third three times, earning two penalty corners that the Falcons turned away with ease.
On the other half, Messiah eclipsed the 20-shot mark for the tenth time this season, notching 33 attempts in the game. The Falcons also earned 13 penalty corners.
Up Next
The Falcons play their final MAC Commonwealth contest next Thursday when they travel to Albright. The Lions entered today fourth in the conference with a 3-2 record. Game time on Thursday is set for 7:00 p.m.
