GRANTHAM, Pa. – The fourth-ranked Messiah University field hockey team used five different goal scorers and a dominant defensive effort to defeat Albright College 5-0 on Wednesday night. The Falcons started strong with two first quarter goals from Jenna Lutz and Anna Koenig to take an early lead. After a slow second quarter, Hailey Womer scored a goal to extend the Falcons lead to three headed into the fourth. Teagan Murrie and Lindsay McFeaters each added a goal in the fourth quarter to make the final score 5-0.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Reading, Pa. to take on the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2:00 p.m.

First Quarter
After a slow start the Falcons, offense started to create opportunities in the eighth minute. After a save on a Lindsay McFeaters shot the Falcons earned a penalty corner. Jenna Lutz sent the corner into play to Nicole Shank who ripped a shot pass towards the goal. The ball bounced up in the air and Lutz tapped the ball out of the air and into the open goal to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons continued the attack just two minutes later. Leah Bryner caused a Albright turnover near midfield and started the attack for the Falcons. After a few passes, Anna Koenig received the ball at the top right of the circle, and she drove towards the goal and sent her shot past the Albright goalkeeper to push the Falcons lead to 2-0.
 
Second Quarter
The second quarter featured some uncharacteristic play from both teams, but the Lions took advantage of the opportunity after earning a penalty corner in the 22nd minute. After the corner was played in by Chelsea Johnson, Olivia Lorah ripped a shot, but Catie Brubaker made an impressive save to keep the Falcons 2-0 lead. The final eight minutes was dominated by both defenses with no more shots allowed and a two-goal lead for the Falcons at the break.
 
Third Quarter
After a sluggish second quarter, the Falcons opened the third quarter with more urgency on the offensive end. In the 33rd minute, the Falcons earned a penalty corner and Jenna Lutz sent the ball into play. After Megan North's shot was blocked, the ball trickled in front of the goal and Hailey Womer quickly sent a one-timer past the Albright goalkeeper and into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead. The Falcons continued the attack in the 35th minute. Olivia Zaskoda was able to get a great look at the goal, but her shot was denied by the Albright goalkeeper to keep the score at 3-0 entering the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Falcons were not content with a three-goal lead. Just two minutes into the fourth quarter the Falcons earned a penalty corner. Ellie Lefever sent the corner into play and Nicole Shank quickly sent a pass over to Teagan Murrie. Murrie wound up and ripped a shot that went through the traffic in front of the goal and into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead. The Falcons continued to take advantage of penalty corner opportunities in the 52nd minute. After some Falcons attempts were blocked the ball bounced towards Lindsay McFeaters and she rifled a shot into the back of the goal to put the final score at 5-0.
 
Stats
The Falcons had five different goal scorers on the night. Jenna Lutz, Anna Koenig, Hailey Womer, Teagan Murrie, and Lindsay McFeaters each scored a goal. Murrie scored her team-high seventh goal of the season. Nicole Shank tallied an assist. The Falcons outshot the Lions 18-2 with Messiah having 10 shots on goal to Albright's one. Messiah earned 11 penalty corners and Albright earned two. Catie Brubaker earned the shutout win and made one save. Brubaker earned her fourth shutout of the season out of six shutouts for the Falcons this season.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to Reading, Pa. to take on the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 2:00 p.m.