GRANTHAM, Pa. - In their third match of the season against a team ranked in the top-10, the No. 7 Messiah field hockey team took down the No. 4-ranked Lions from The College of New Jersey by a 2-1 final on a hot and humid Saturday afternoon in Grantham, Pa. The Falcons did all their damage in the second quarter with Ashlyn Smith netting a goal off a corner and Jennie Young scoring off a reverse shot in the period. The Falcons controlled much of the game, with the Lions having the upper hand in the final period, cutting the lead in half on a penalty stroke with seven minutes left in regulation.

Smith's tally was her fourth of the season, as Young's goal was her second of the season. Messiah's defense played a phenomenal game, holding the fourth-ranked team in the country to just two shots on goal. Catie Brubaker, the MAC Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Week, recorded one save in the victory.

The opening quarter of play was scoreless between the two top-ten sides. The Falcons outshot the Lions, 2-0, but were unable to find the cage. Messiah threatened, earning a penalty corner while TCNJ (Christina Cammarata) was serving a green card penalty. The offensive opportunity came with just 15 seconds left in the period, but the Lions' defense prevailed, sending both teams to the second quarter tied, 0-0.

The Falcons did not wait long in the second quarter to get on the board first. Smith, 3:29 into the second quarter, recorded her fourth goal of the season to put Messiah ahead, 1-0. Just six minutes later, Young doubled the Falcons' advantage, 2-0, scoring on a reverse shot. The assist was credited to Nicole Shank, who made a stellar defensive play in the midfield to start the scoring play. Shank dispossessed the Lions by the center line, drove the ball up the field, finding Young who converted her first shot of the afternoon for a goal. Messiah held on to its two-goal edge heading into halftime, leading the Lions in shots, 4-0.

Entering the third quarter of play, the Falcons had played six-consecutive quarters of action without allowing a shot. The Falcons' defense would ultimately win them the game in the second half. After a quiet and scoreless third period, Messiah entered the fourth and final quarter leading TCNJ, 2-0.

The Lions got themselves on the board, 2-1, with a penalty stroke with 7:10 left to play. Jess Hatch converted the penalty corner to cut TCNJ's deficit in half, cutting the margin for error on the Falcons' defense for the remaining seven minutes of the contest. TCNJ threatened with a penalty corner with six minutes left to play, but Messiah matched the offensive opportunity with even better defense. In the final five minutes of play, the Falcons were successful in holding possession of the ball in the Lion's defensive third of the field, limiting any offensive chances. Messiah was able to see out the game clock, clinching the top-ten battle by a score of 2-1.

The victory improved Messiah's record to 5-1 overall. The Falcons had six penalty corners to the Lion's three and outshot the visitors in shots on goal, 3-2. Smith, with four goals on the season, now has the second-highest mark on the team (Makayla Malcolm, five).

What's Up Next
Messiah will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Annville, Pa. to take on the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen in its first MAC Commonwealth contest of the year. That match is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.