ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – The No. 21 Messiah field hockey team opened conference play with a dominant 7-0 victory over the Eastern Eagles. The Falcons picked up a 2-0 lead in the first quarter behind goals from Carrie Bair and Leah Bryner. They then doubled their lead in the second quarter with a pair of goals by Chelsea Carpenter. Teagan Murrie added goals in the third and fourth quarter before Ellie Lefever added one of her own to bring the Falcons lead to 7-0 to finish the game.

Messiah is next in action on Wednesday, October 16th when they host the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University at 7:00 p.m. on Anderson Field.

First Quarter
Messiah opened action with an offensive push from the start. Just under two minutes into the game, Carrie Bair fired off a shot that was saved by the Eagles goalie. In the next two minutes, the Falcons fired three more shots, forcing the goalie to make two more saves before Leah Bryner missed just wide. At the 4:44 mark, Messiah took their second penalty corner of the game. Jenna Lutz found Mallory Kline on the insert who was able to make the pass to Carrie Bair who found the back of the cage to the right of the goalie. Two and a half minutes later, Jenna Lutz fired a ball into the circle that Leah Bryner who was able to tip past the goalie to bring the Messiah lead to 2-0. The Falcons fired off two more shots in the opening quarter but were unable to increase their lead.

Second Quarter
The Falcons did not slow their efforts as they came out for the second half, pushing forward to their offensive end in the first minute. Aubrey Clark intercepted a pass from an Eastern defender and made the pass forward to Chelsea Carpenter. Carpenter drove towards the left post and slotted the ball past a defender for her first career goal and the Falcons third of the game. Eastern fired their first shot of the game, a hard struck ball that missed wide without much threat to the Falcons clean slate. With just under five minutes remaining in the first half, it was Carpenter who stripped a defender of the ball right outside the top of the circle. She took a few dribbles in and fired a shot past the approaching goalie to bring Messiah's lead to 4-0.

Third Quarter
Messiah continued the pressure coming out of the half with a shot from Leah Bryner deflecting off the post. A minute later, Teagan Murrie intercepted a pass and took a hard strike that sailed past the Eastern goalie's glove, bringing the lead to 5-0. An interception and drive forward by Hailey Womer resulted in a penalty corner for Messiah but the Falcons were unable to convert a shot. At the other end, Eastern picked up their first penalty corner of the game and looked to get a score on the board. The Eagles fired off a shot that hit the post and earned a second corner but were unable to convert for a goal. Eastern picked up two more penalty corners and two shots. Joy Lippert was able to kick away the second shot to keep the Eagles scoreless. With two and a half minutes to go, Mallory Kline took a shot from off a penalty corner that looked like it would sneak through, but the Eagles picked up a defensive save to keep the score at 5-0.

Fourth Quarter
Messiah did not let up the offensive attack in the final quarter of play. In the first five minutes, they earned two penalty corners and fired four shots. Chelsea Carpenter and Anna Koenig both had good looks, but the Eastern goalie was able to make the saves. With just over six minutes remaining, Teagan Murrie was fouled on a shot attempt and the Falcons were awarded a penalty stroke. Murrie stepped up to the penalty spot and fired it inside the right post for her second goal of the day and increasing the Messiah lead to 6-0. With just over five to play, Ellie Lefever fired a shot that was saved by the Eastern goalie. The Falcons earned another penalty corner and Ellie Lefever was able to use the insert from Carpenter for a hard struck ball that cut past a defender and under the goalie's leg to bring the score to 7-0 in favor of the Falcons.

Stats
Chelsea Carpenter led the Falcons with two goals and an assist while Teagan Murrie added two goals of her own. Leah Bryner, Carrie Bair, and Ellie Lefever each added a goal. Jenna Lutz, Mallory Kline, and Aubrey Clark each added an assist. Messiah outshot Eastern 25 to five, placing 14 on goal to Eastern's one. The Falcons took 12 penalty corners, and the Eagles took six.

Up Next
Messiah is next in action on Wednesday, October 16th when they host the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University at 7:00 p.m. on Anderson Field.