GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah University Field Hockey team used a three-goal third quarter to defeat No. 12 Rowan University, 3-0, on Wednesday night. After a scoreless opening half, the Falcons offense exploded in the third quarter. After a Rowan foul in the 38th minute, Messiah earned a penalty stroke and Nicole Shank ripped the oprotunity into the bottom-left corner to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons offense kept rolling with Megan North finding Ellie Lefever to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead. In the 43rd minute, the Falcons put the game out of reach with Lefever's second goal of the night. The tally pushed the Falcons' lead to 3-0. After facing zero shots in the first half, Catie Brubaker made four key saves after the break to earn the shutout in goal.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Montclair, N.J. to take on the Red Hawks of Montclair State on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1:00 p.m.
 
First Quarter
After both teams felt each other out in the first nine minutes of the game, the Falcons looked for first scoring opportunity in the 10th minute. After Anna Koenig forced an errant pass from the Profs, she sent a pass from midfield to Ellie Lefever. Lefever then sent a pass of her own to the top of the circle to Aubrey Clark. Clark gathered the ball and ripped a shot towards the bottom-left corner, but the Profs goalkeeper made an impressive kick-save to keep the Falcons off the board. The Falcons next best opportunity to score the opening goal came in the 15th minute after earning a penalty corner. Jenna Lutz sent the corner into play to Nicole Shank. Shank sent a shot towards the goal, but it was blocked by a Profs defender. The Falcons kept possession and then Madi Johnson sent a shot towards the net, that Ellie Lefever tipped towards the goal, but again the Profs goalkeeper kept the game scoreless.
 
Second Quarter
The second quarter was completely dominated by stifling defenses from both teams. The Falcons offense nearly broke through in the 27th minute, when Kelsey Heltzel forced a Profs turnover and then sent a strong pass from the right-side of the field into the circle to Hailey Womer. Womer then quickly passed it to Megan North. North made a moved past a defender and sent a shot towards the bottom-right corner, but again the Profs goalkeeper stood tall to keep the game scoreless at the half.
 
Third Quarter
The Falcons came out of the break dominating on the offensive end. The Falcons continue to give the Profs defenders fits, but just could not put the ball into the back of the net. That was until the 39th minute. After a foul inside the circle, the Falcons earned a penalty stroke attempt. Nicole Shank got the chance on the penalty stroke and would not be denied, sending the shot into the bottom-right corner, past a diving Profs goalkeeper, to give Messiah a 1-0 lead.

The Profs looked to answer back quickly, just a minute later with a penalty corner opportunity. Amber Powell sent in the corner to Julia Cavicchio. Cacicchio ripped a shot from the top of the circle that bounced up, but Allie Mast was there to make the defense save and keep the Messiah lead. After the big defensive save, the Falcons went back on the attack. In the 40th minute, Ellie Lefever forced a Profs turnover and poked the ball to Megan North. North dribbled the ball into the circle and sent a pass to Ellie Lefever. Lefever sent a one-timer, past the sliding Profs goalkeeper and into the back of the goal to give Messiah a 2-0 lead. Lefever was not done just yet though. In the 44th minute, the Falcons pushed the ball forward on the attack once again. Teagan Murrie gathered the ball in the middle of the field and sent a pass into the circle to Ellie Lefever. Lefever made one moved and sent a blistering shot from the top of the circle that went into the back of the goal to push the Falcons lead to 3-0, heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Profs brought the offensive pressure in the fourth. The Profs outshot the Falcons 7-0, but Catie Brubaker shut down all the chances with all four saves of her saves coming in the fourth quarter.
 
Stats
Nicole Shank scored a penalty stroke goal and Ellie Lefever scored two goals to lead the Falcons offense. It was the third goal of the season for Shank and the second and third goal of the season for Lefever. Teagan Murrie and Megan North each tallied an assist. The Falcons outshot the Profs 17-9. The Falcons totaled nine shots on goal and the Profs tallied five. Messiah earned eight penalty corners to Rowans six. Catie Brubaker earned the shutout win in goal for the Falcons with four saves. Allie Mast added in a defensive save.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to Montclair, N.J. to take on the Red Hawks of Montclair State on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 1:00 p.m.