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Field Hockey Earns Top Seed, Hosts Stevenson in MAC Commonwealth Semifinal

10/31/2023 2:20:00 PM

GRANTHAM, Pa. - The top-seeded Messiah field hockey team is scheduled to open the MAC Commonwealth Tournament on Wednesday night with a semifinal match against the fourth-seeded Stevenson Mustangs. The Falcons will host the semifinal game against Stevenson on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 7:00 p.m. on Anderson Field. 

Second-seeded York will host the Widener Pride in the other semifinal match on Wednesday night with the winner's meeting in the MAC Commonwealth Championship on Saturday, hosted by the highest seed. 

Messiah has claimed a total of 28 Conference Championships in program history. The Falcons have won 15 straight MAC Commonwealth Championships with their last loss in 2006 to Lebanon Valley College. Last season, Messiah defeated York 2-0 to claim their 16th-straight MAC Commonwealth crown.

Fans should note that since this is a Middle Atlantic Conference Postseason Tournament, tickets are required for all fans. The pricing for tickets are as follows: Adults: $5, Senior Citizens: $4, Students (Valid ID) and Children" $2, and Children under 6: FREE. Thanks to a generous donor, the first 100 Messiah students at all MAC Commonwealth Tournament games this week will get in free.

No. 1 Messiah Falcons

15-1 Overall, 7-0 MAC Commonwealth
Team Homepage  |  Schedule  |  Roster  |  Stats

The top-seeded Falcons finished the season with a 15-1 record with a 7-0 record in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons opened the season with five straight wins including a big win over #6 Salisbury University. The Falcons suffered a tough loss to #3 Johns Hopkins, but then finished the season with 10 straight wins. The Falcons defeated #9 York, 2-0 in the season finale to earn the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. The Falcons defense was dominant all season with eight shutout wins on the season. The Falcons won the 2022 MAC Commonwealth Championship, 2-0 over York. 


 Players to Watch

  • #1 Aubrey Clark - 9 goals, 3 assists, 33 shots, 1 GWG
  • #15 Teagan Murrie - 8 goals, 3 assists, 34 shots, 3 GWG
  • #12 Carrie Bair - 8 goals, 30 shots, 1 GWG
  • #9 Nicole Shank - 4 goals, 7 assists, 50 shots, 1 GWG
  • #18 Lindsay McFeaters - 5 goals, 3 assists, 1 GWG
  • #6 Allie Mast - 16 GP, 16 starts, 5 defensive saves
  • #96 Catie Brubaker - 0.82 GAA, 36 saves, .783 sv. pct., 5 SO

No. 4 Stevenson Mustangs

11-8 Overall, 4-3 MAC Commonwealth
Team Homepage  |  Schedule  |  Roster  |  Stats

The Mustangs finished the 2023 season with an 11-8 record with a 4-3 record in MAC Commonwealth play. The Mustangs opened the season strong with a 5-1 record in their first six games. The Mustangs then went 3-7 in their next 10 games. Stevenson rebounded and finished the season strong with a three-game winning streak. The Mustangs last MAC Commonwealth postseason appearance was in 2015, falling 6-0 to Messiah. 

Players to Watch

  • #1 Emma Gladstein - 17 goals, 8 assists, 76 shots, 4 GWG
  • #33 Rylee Leakway - 5 goals, 4 assists, the 51 shots, 2 GWG
  • #11 Meghan Huey - 5 goals, 2 assists, 14 shots, 2 GWG
  • #44 Eve Vickery - 1.40 GAA, 42 saves, .737 sv. pct.
  • #80 Jordan Vradenburgh - 1.66 GAA, 38 saves, .760 sv. pct

 

When They Met

The Falcons and Mustangs met on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at Anderson Field. The Falcons dominated with an 8-1 win. The Falcons were led by two goals from Madi Johnson and had seven different goal scorers on the night. Messiah outshot Stevenson 23-5. 

 

No. 2 York Spartans

15-3 Overall, 6-1 MAC Commonwealth
Team Homepage  |  Schedule  |  Roster  |  Stats

The Spartans had a very impressive season finishing 15-3 with a 6-1 record in MAC Commonwealth play. The Spartans started the season with a six-game win streak. The Falcons then went 2-2 in their next four games with tough losses to then #25 Lynchburg and #6 Salisbury. York then rattled off six straight wins before falling to Messiah in the season finale. The Spartans have made it to the MAC Commonwealth Tournament in each of their two season as a part of the conference. In 2022, York lost to Messiah, 2-0 in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game.

Players to Watch

  • #6 Katie Martino - 11 goals, 2 assists, 44 shots, 6 GWG
  • #16 Olivia Miller - 5 goals, 4 assists, 39 shots, 2 GWG
  • #25 Hannah Huffman - 5 goals, 3 assists, 42 shots, 2 GWG
  • #25 Libby Wild - 4 goals, 2 assists, 21 shots, 2 GWG
  • #97 Belle Fields - 0.47 GAA, 39 saves, .830 sv. pct., 10 SO

 

When They Met

The Falcons and Spartans battled in the regular season finale to decide who would be the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. The two defenses shined, but a Carrie Bair breakaway goal broke the scoreless tie in the 20th minute. Aubrey Clark added an insurance goal in final minute of the first half to give the Falcons the 2-0 lead. The Falcons defense shutdown the Spartans attack, allowing zero shots or penalty corners in the game. 

 

No. 3 Widener Pride

8-9 Overall, 4-3 MAC Commonwealth
Team Homepage  |  Schedule  |  Roster  |  Stats

The Pride finished the 2023 season with an 8-9 record with a 4-3 record in MAC Commonwealth play. Widener opened the season with a tough start going 2-5 in their first seven games. The Pride then went 3-1 in their next four games. The Pride then went 1-3 in three in their next four games before finishing the regular season with two straight big wins to earn the third seed. The Pride were competitive in every MAC Commonwealth game with every game being decided by two or less goals. The Pride look to make it back to the MAC Commonwealth Championship after making it in 2021 after defeating York, 1-0. 

Players to Watch

  • #2 Margaret Howe-Consiglio - 6 goals, 1 assist, 26 shots, 3 GWG
  • #22 Kayleigh Armstrong - 4 goals, 1 assist, 14 shots, 1 GWG
  • #11 Meredith Marsteller - 3 goals, 2 assists, 9 shots
  • #55 Abby Blake - 0.71 GAA, 36 saves, .857 sv. pct., 3 SO

 

When They Met

The Falcons and the Pride met on Saturday, Oct. 14 in some tough rainy conditions. Both defenses shined, but the Falcons came out on top 2-0. Teagan Murrie broke the scoreless tie with a goal in the 54th minute and Carrie Bair added a goal in the 57th minute to give the Falcons the win. The Falcons outshot the Pride 20-3. 

 

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