GRANTHAM, Pa. - The No. 5 Messiah field hockey team bested visiting York College (Pa.), 4-1, at Anderson Field on Saturday afternoon. Catie Brubaker provided a heroic save on a penalty stroke in the second quarter to preserve a scoreless tie, leading to four goals in the second half as the Falcons improved their overall record to 7-1 (2-0 MAC Commonwealth).

Teagan Murrie tallied two goals within 1:21 of gameplay in the third quarter while Jennie Young and Nicole Shank each added goals to propel Messiah to its second-consecutive MAC Commonwealth victory.

The opening quarter of play was controlled by the Falcons. Messiah, throughout the whole quarter, applied persistent offensive pressure, but the York defense held firm. The Falcons totaled two quality shots on goal, one from Nicole Shank and one from Makayla Malcolm. Shank's effort was from a penalty corner opportunity as the Spartans' goalkeeper, Kaitlyn Wallance, matched the shot with a good save. Despite three penalty corners from Messiah, the first quarter was scoreless between the two sides, 0-0.
 
The second quarter was much like the opening period, with no goals being recorded. The defensive play of the game came with 7:21 remaining in the half when Brubaker denied York's Rachel Della of a penalty stroke goal. Della lifted the ball to top third of the net, but Brubaker dove to her right side, making a tremendous save to keep the score level. The remainder of the quarter proved to be scoreless as the two sides entered halftime knotted up at 0-0.
 
The Falcons dominated much of the first half, outshooting the Spartans, 3-1, while earning five penalty corners to the visitor's one.
 
The contest opened up for Messiah in the third quarter as Murrie and Young each recorded shots on goal. Those shots on goal would foreshadow an offensive outburst for the Falcons as Murrie opened up the scoring at the 6:00 mark of the third quarter, finding the back of the cage to give Messiah a 1-0 lead. Lauren Seubert was credited with the assist on the goal as the Falcons were just getting started. Only 1:21 later, Murrie notched her sixth goal of the season, doubling the advantage (2-0). Lindsay McFeaters claimed her third assist of the season on the goal. Messiah earned three-consecutive penalty corners in the final minute of the quarter, converting on the third opportunity as Young scored an unassisted effort to make the Falcon lead 3-0. Young's tally was the third of her season as Messiah entered the final period play with a commanding 3-0 lead.
 
Despite carving out a three-goal lead, the Falcons did not relent with their offensive pressure in the fourth quarter. Four-straight penalty corners in the first 2:45 of the quarter held the Spartans in their defensive third of the field. Messiah came up empty-handed on the penalty corner opportunities, but added their fourth goal of the game with just thirty seconds remaining in the contest when Nicole Shank ripped a low shot from the top of the shooting circle, assisted by Leah Bryner. Shank's tally was her first goal of the season and solidified a Messiah victory. The Spartans scored a goal on the final play of the game on a penalty corner, but it was not enough as Messiah claimed the win, 4-1.
 
Murrie's goals were her fifth and sixth goals of the season, as she is now tied with teammate Makayla Malcolm for the team lead. The Falcons outshot York, 10-7. In the third quarter alone, Messiah issued six shots, allowing zero shots from the Spartans. With six different players recording at least one point in the contest, Messiah improves its overall record to 7-1 on the season.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah will be back in action on Wednesday, Sept. 29, when it hosts Ursinus College at 7:00 p.m.