GRANTHAM, Pa. – Messiah field hockey improved its record to 2-0 on Saturday afternoon after topping visiting Mary Washington, 6-1, at Anderson Field. Leading the Falcons in scoring was both Leah Bryner and Ashlyn Smith, who each recorded their first two tallies of the season, while Jennie Young and Megan North contributed goals to lead Messiah to the victory.
 
Messiah, playing in their first meaningful field hockey contest on Anderson Field since the 2019 campaign, had a victorious homecoming. A total of four different goal scorers combined for six goals as the Falcons held the Eagles to just one goal.
 
The opening half of play was eventful as the Falcons got themselves in a good position going into halftime. Getting on the board first was Messiah as Smith scored her first goal of the season to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The visiting Eagles responded in quick fashion leveling the score, 1-1, from a tally by Sydney Keating. Mary Washington trailed for just under three minutes of gameplay before finding the equalizer. Senior Jennie Young scored her first goal of the season to restore the Falcon's one-goal edge, 2-1. The remainder of the first half was scoreless as the Falcons headed into the break with a one-goal advantage.
 
The second half proved to be dominant for Messiah, outscoring the Eagles during the third and fourth quarters, 4-0. Bryner got on the board nine minutes into the third quarter, contributing a tally to increase Messiah's lead to 3-1. Nicole Shank was credited with the assist on the Falcon's third goal of the contest, her second assist of the season. Messiah tacked on a fourth goal two minutes later when North, who scored a goal in her Falcon debut on Thursday, found herself back on the score sheet.
 
The Falcons entered the fourth and final quarter of play holding on to a three-goal lead. Continuing its second-half dominance, Messiah closed the door on Mary Washington by padding its lead with two more tallies. Both goals were scored with under six minutes to play, as Smith and Bryner each increased their goal totals to two. The Eagles threatened with two-consecutive penalty corners with three minutes remaining, but the Falcons held firm defensively, seeing out the victory, 6-1.
 
Messiah goalkeeper Catie Brubaker played all 60 minutes of the contest for the Falcons, recording four saves. Brubaker increases her season saves total to five while improving her record to 2-0. 
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will return to action this Wednesday, Sept. 8th, when they travel to Franklin and Marshall College to take on the Diplomats at 7:00 p.m.