LANCASTER, Pa. – In a top-ten battle between local foes, the No. 8 Messiah field hockey team won a thrilling overtime game, 2-1, on the road at No. 2 Franklin & Marshall College on Wednesday night. The Falcons used a third quarter goal from Allie Mast, her first collegiate goal, and an overtime tally from Ashlyn Smith to push past the Diplomats. The Falcons were tested defensively all night, ultimately coming out on top with help from junior goalkeeper Catie Brubaker (seven saves).
 
The road victory improves Messiah's record to 3-0 before a clash with No. 5 Salisbury University on Saturday at Anderson Field.
 
The opening quarter of play resulted in a scoreless period between the Falcons and the Diplomats. During the quarter, there was just one shot, an attempt from Nicole Shank that was blocked. It was not until the second quarter of the contest in which both goalkeepers were finally put to the test.
 
Jennie Young, a goal scorer in Messiah's 6-1 victory over Mary Washington on Saturday, fired the first shot on frame for the Falcons seven minutes into the second quarter. The shot was saved by Diplomat goalkeeper Sydney Lippe, who totaled two saves in the first half. The rest of the second half remained scoreless as the two sides entered the break knotted up, 0-0.
 
In the first half, Messiah outshot the Diplomats, 4-1. Two of the Falcons' four shots were on target, as Franklin & Marshall's lone shot was on frame, resulting in a save from goalkeeper Catie Brubaker. With Messiah earning two penalty corners versus the Diplomats' one penalty corner, the two sides were set up for a quality second half of action.
 
The opening five minutes of the second half were scoreless. The Falcons earned their third penalty corner of the game just over seven minutes into the third quarter, but the Franklin & Marshall defense held firm. The Diplomats answered with a pair of penalty corner opportunities, resulting in a shot from Amelia McCarthy that was blocked. The game was becoming more and more of a defensive battle as the scoreless minutes tacked on until the Falcons struck first. Mast, charging towards the goal on the left side, struck a shot that snuck by Lippe on the far post, breaking the scoreless tie and putting the Falcons ahead, 1-0, with under two minutes to play in the third quarter. The final two minutes of play were scoreless as Messiah entered the final quarter holding on to a one-goal edge.
 
Despite taking the lead in the third quarter, the Falcons were outshot by the Diplomats in the period, 4-2. Franklin & Marshall continued its offensive momentum in the beginning of the fourth quarter, getting a shot on goal just 25 seconds into the period, forcing Brubaker's fourth save of the game. Messiah, playing strong defense throughout the entirety of the game, was tested with under four minutes of the game. With the Diplomats sixth penalty corner of the game, Kat Horsley found herself in some space and rifled a shot into traffic. The ball ultimately crossed the goal line, tying the contest at 1-1. The remainder of the fourth quarter was without action as the Falcons and Diplomats entered a decisive overtime period.
 
Messiah's first shot of the overtime period came four minutes in when Mast was searching for her second tally of the game, but Lippe denied her for her fourth save of the night. With 2:10 remaining in the period, Brubaker made a clutch play in goal, darting off her line to clear a potential breakaway attempt from Franklin & Marshall.
 
The game-clinching goal came with under a minute to play in the opening overtime period when Jennie Young played the ball across net as Smith was on the other end, emphatically putting an end to a long, hard-fought contest. The decisive goal gave the Falcons the 2-1 win, improving its 2021 record to an unbeaten 3-0.
 
Smith notched her third goal of the season, a team-leading mark.
 
What's Up Next
After taking down No. 2 Franklin & Marshall on Wednesday, the schedule does not get any easier for the Falcons. Messiah (3-0) will return to Anderson Field on Saturday, Sept. 11, when they host No. 5 Salisbury University at 1:00 p.m.