MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The Messiah University field hockey team used a stellar defensive effort to defeat the Montclair St. Red Hawks, 1-0, on Saturday afternoon. The defense was the story for the Falcons in the first quarter. Catie Brubaker made five saves in goal and Nicole Shank made two defensive saves to keep the game tied. After a slow start to the afternoon offensively, Teagan Murrie ripped a shot off a penalty corner from Jenna Lutz to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons did not allow a shot in the second and third quarter dominating play. The Red Hawks had one shot on goal in the fourth, but Catie Brubaker made her sixth save of the afternoon to earn the shutout win.
 
Up next, the Falcons return to Anderson Field for Homecoming Weekend and their MAC Commonwealth opener against the Eastern University Eagles on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1:00 p.m.
 
First Quarter
The Red Hawks started the game on the attack. With just under nine minutes remaining in the first quarter, Montclair St. earned a great scoring opportunity with a penalty corner attempt. The Red Hawks sent the ball into play and Sadie Eichlin ripped a shot on net that Catie Brubaker made a save on. The Red Hawks continued the rush with two more shots, but Brubaker shut all the shot attempts down, but the Red Hawks earned another penalty corner. This time off the corner, Tori Sutera got a shot off, but Nicole Shank was there to make an impressive defensive save to keep the game scoreless. The flurry of penalty corners continued for the Red Hawks in the fifth minute. The Red Hawks sent a shot towards the net, but Catie Brubaker made the save. Tori Sutera gathered the rebound, but again Nicole Shank was there to make another defensive save.
 
Second Quarter
After putting up zero shots in the first quarter the Falcons offense regrouped in the second minute of the second quarter with a penalty corner opportunity. Jenna Lutz sent the ball into play and Nicole Shank ripped a shot towards the goal, but it was blocked. The Falcons gathered the ball and Aubrey Clark then sent a shot towards the goal, but this time the Red Hawks goalkeeper made the save. The Falcons though earned another penalty corner with four minutes remaining in the second. Jenna Lutz sent the corner into play to top-left of the circle to Teagan Murrie and she ripped a shot towards the goal. The shot bounced off a couple defenders and into the back of the net to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead at the half.
 
Third Quarter
The Falcons continued the offensive momentum into the third quarter. In the fifth minute, off another corner, Jenna Lutz and Teagan Murrie tried for that same connection that worked in the second quarter. This time though, the Red Hawks goalkeeper made the save and kept the Falcons lead at just one. The Falcons offensive pressure continued with five minutes remaining in the third. The Falcons earned a corner, but this time Jenna Lutz passed it to the top of the circle to Nicole Shank and Shank ripped a shot towards the goal. The ball made it past the goalkeeper and looked to be a goal for Shank, but a nice defensive save from Anna Donaldson kept the Red Hawks deficit at one heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
Just three minutes into the fourth, the Red Hawks had a great opportunity to tie the game. Carlie Van Tassel had a great chance with a shot on net, but Catie Brubaker made her sixth save of the game to keep the lead. The Falcon's defense was relentless for the rest of the game and did not allow another Montclair St. shot on goal.
 
Stats
Teagan Murrie scored the lone goal for the Falcons. It was the second goal of the season for Murrie. Jenna Lutz tallied her second assist of the season on the Murrie goal. The Falcons outshot the Red Hawks 13-12. The Falcons had nine shots on goal to the Red Hawks' eight. Messiah earned nine penalty corners and Montclair St. earned seven. Catie Brubaker started in goal and earned the shutout win with six saves. Nicole Shank made two defensive saves for the Falcons.
 
Next
The Falcons return to Anderson Field for Homecoming Weekend and their MAC Commonwealth opener against the Eastern University Eagles on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 1:00 p.m.