GETTYSBURG, Pa. – No. 2 Messiah field hockey earned a 2-1 victory over the Gettysburg Bullets on Wednesday afternoon behind goals from
Kris Levesque and
Jennie Young. Messiah scored both of their tallies in the opening half, with Levesque scoring 23:11 into the match and Young netting her goal just two minutes before the break.
Gettysburg found their score just over 13 minutes into the second-half off a tipped shot from Henna Fraiman, but the Falcons hung tough over the final 20-plus minute to earn the 2-1 victory.
The Falcons out shot the Bullets 16-7, but held just an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal.
With the win, Messiah moves to 10-0 on the season and will next take the field on Saturday afternoon against the Albright Lions at 1:00 p.m. on Anderson Field.
First-Half Early Lead
Messiah took a 2-0 lead in the opening half thanks to a pair of goals from underclassmen, but it was the Bullets that had the first dangerous chances in the contest. Less than five minutes into the match, Gettysburg earned a penalty corner, but
Shelby Landes turned the attempt away.
Messiah had a handful of opportunities with
Hannah Palm sending two shots wide in the 13th minute before
Josie Weaver's attempt in the 16th minute missed wide as well. Gettysburg tested Landes again in the 20th and 22nd minutes, but the senior was up for the task and turned away the attempts to keep the match scoreless.
Messiah found the cage first with a tally from
Kris Levesque 23:11 into the match.
Kaylor Rosenberry slotted a pass to Levesque and the sophomore sent her shot into the middle of the cage for the 1-0 lead.
Ten minutes later the Falcons doubled their lead with a
Jennie Young shot to the left corner off a pass from
Casie Stief. The tally gave Messiah a 2-0 lead through the opening period after holding a 9-4 advantage in shots.
Holding On Late
Like the first-half, Messiah held the advantage in the territory battle in the second-half with a 7-3 edge in shots, but it was the Bullets that scored the only goal of the half. Less than 15 minutes into the second-half, Grace Torrance sent a cross into a dangerous position and Henna Fraiman redirected the shot past the Falcons' defense and pulled Gettysburg within one at 2-1.
Following the Bullets' goal, Messiah turned up the pressure and attempted five shots and earned seven penalty corners in a 12-minute stretch. While Messiah was unable to find an insurance goal, they kept the Bullets away from their attacking third until the final minutes of the contest.
With less than two and a half minutes remaining, Gettysburg earned a penalty corner. Their shot attempt off the corner went wide and Messiah held on for the final moments of the contest for the 2-1 victory.
What's Up Next
Messiah moves to 10-0 on the season with the 2-1 victory. The Falcons will next take the field on Saturday afternoon when they host the Albright Lions at 1:00 p.m. on Anderson Field. The Lions are 5-6 this season and hold a 1-1 record in the MAC Commonwealth.
