Reading, Pa. – The Messiah University field hockey team used four second-half goals to lead them to a 5-2 win at Alvernia University of Saturday afternoon. In the sixth minute, Nicole Shank opened the scoring for the Falcons with a goal from Teagan Murrie. After a Golden Wolves goal that tied the game going into the half, the Falcons looked for an offensive breakout in the second half. They got that with two third quarter goals from Madi Johnson and Aubrey Clark to extend the lead to 3-1. The Falcons added two more goals from Ellie Lefever and Audrey Weger in the fourth to put the final score at 5-2.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Frederick, Md. to take on the Blazers of Hood College on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 5:00 p.m.

First Quarter
The Falcons opened the game strong on the offensive end with a penalty corner opportunity in the sixth minute. Jenna Lutz sent the corner into Teagan Murrie. Murrie sent a pass to Nicole Shank and she ripped a shot into the back of the goal to give the Falcons an early 1-0 lead. The Murrie to Shank connection almost worked again, just a minute later, but Shank's post went off the post. Shank continued to be an offensive force for the Falcons in the 13th minute, on the penalty corners, but this time her shot was saved by the Golden Wolves goalkeeper.
 
Second Quarter
After being held without a shot in the first quarter the Golden Wolves would look for an offensive chance with a penalty corner in the 17th minute. After the ball went into play, Kathryn Palmer found Gianna DeGregory and she sent a shot into the back of the goal to tie the game at one. After a slow start to the quarter the Falcons attack went to work in the 27th minute. Carrie Bair and Nicole Shank each had shots on goal, but the Golden Wolves goalkeeper made two great saves to keep the score tied at one at the half.
 
Third Quarter
After being held off the scoreboard in the second quarter, the Falcons did not waste any time getting the lead back. After a penalty corner, Nicole Shank passed the ball to Madi Johnson and Johnson sent a shot past the Golden Wolves goalkeeper to make the score 2-1. After some chances were shut down, the Falcons looked to get back on the scoreboard in the 42nd minute. Lindsay McFeaters found Aubrey Clark inside the circle and Clark sent the shot into the goal to extend the Falcons lead to two heading into the fourth quarter. 
 
Fourth Quarter
The Falcons offense looked for another goal to put away the Golden Wolves. In the 56th minute, Anna Koenig sent a shot towards the net, the Golden Wolves goalkeeper made a save, but Ellie Lefever followed the rebound and tapped the ball into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 4-1 lead. The Golden Wolves though would not go away with a penalty corner in the final minute. Gianna DeGregory sent a pass to Caroline Martin and Martin sent a shot into the back of the goal to reduce the Falcons lead to two. Audrey Weger added a Falcons goal just 20 seconds later to push the final score to 5-2.
 
Stats
The Falcons had five different goal scorers on the afternoon. Nicole Shank, Madi Johnson, Aubrey Clark, Ellie Lefever, and Audrey Weger each scored for the Falcons. Tegan Murrie, Lindsay McFeaters and Shank each tallied an assist. The Falcons outshot the Golden Wolves 28-5. Messiah totaled 15 shots on goal to Alvernia's three. The Falcons earned 17 penalty corners and the Golden Wolves earned three. Catie Brubaker earned the win in net with one save.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to Frederick, Md. to take on the Blazers of Hood College on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 5:00 p.m.