YORK, Pa. – Messiah Field Hockey picked up an exciting road win at No. 9 York College of Pa. on Saturday afternoon. After a scoreless first quarter, Ellie Lefever scored an early second quarter goal to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead that would hold until halftime. The Spartans scored two in the third quarter, taking the lead. Audrey Weger found Teagan Murrie with 45 seconds remaining in the game to tie the score 2-2 and force overtime. Just a minute and a half into overtime, Hailey Womer made a breakaway run to the goal and found an open Leah Bryner who slotted the ball past the goalie for the game winning tally.

Messiah is next in action on Wednesday, October 23, when they host Widener University on Anderson Field at 7:00 p.m.

First Quarter
Saturday afternoon served as a rematch of the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championship from the 2023 season, where the Falcons edged out the Spartans 1-0. Both teams came into the game coming off multi-goal shutouts over other conference opponents in midweek action. Play was even throughout the first quarter with each team registering only one shot each. At the 3:43 mark, Jenna Lutz fired a shot that the Spartans goalie was able to save. A minute later, York fired a shot of their own but missed wide.

Second Quarter
Messiah controlled much of the second quarter, earning a penalty corner less than a minute into action. Teagan Murrie fired off a shot the was saved by the Spartans goalie. The Falcons were able to possess the deflection and Ellie Lefever was able to find the back of the cage for the first goal of the game, giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. With just over two minutes to play in the first half, Mallory Kline looked to increase the Falcon lead with a shot of her own, but it was blocked.

Third Quarter
After the half, York came out hungry to match the Falcons' first-half goal. The Spartans earned a penalty corner just under three minutes into the quarter. The corner resulted in two blocked shots and a saved shot by Eva Hancock. The Spartans quickly regained possession of the ball and at the 34:01 mark, they were able to put in the equalizer and bring the score to 1-1. With three and a half minutes to play, the Spartans earned their second penalty corner of the game. The shot fired off was blocked and they were awarded another corner. Eva Hancock made the save on the next shot fired before the Spartans earned a third corner in a row, the final resulting in a blocked shot. With a minute and 21 seconds left on the clock, York picked up their fourth corner of the quarter. They put together the passes necessary to slide a ball past Hancock to take the lead 2-1. They fired off two more shots to end the quarter but were unsuccessful in increasing their lead.

Fourth Quarter
Finding themselves trailing the Spartans, Messiah came out looking to find their own equalizer. Hailey Womer was the first Falcon to take a shot, but it was blocked by a Spartan defender. In the last three minutes and five seconds of play, Messiah accumulated six penalty corners and 10 shots. Teagan Murrie fired a shot with 2:57 remaining but the Spartans goalie made the save. Thirty seconds later, Mallory Kline fired a shot that the York goalie again saved. Messiah did not let up the pressure and with 1:58 left, Kline fired another shot that was saved by the goalie before Audrey Weger sent the deflection back on goal, forcing another York save. With 50 seconds remaining on the clock, Messiah earned a penalty corner. Audrey Weger fired a shot that was saved by the goalie before Teagan Murrie was able to fire a shot of her own past the goalie to bring the score to 2-2 with only 45 seconds remaining. The last 21 seconds of the quarter saw the Falcons take three penalty corners, resulting with shots on goal by Teagan Murrie, Ellie Lefever, and Mallory Kline all looking for the game-winning goal. They Spartans goalie was able to save all three shots, sending the game into overtime.

Overtime
A minute and thirty seconds into the overtime period, Hailey Womer fired a shot that was saved by the Spartans goalie. York had no time to respond as Leah Bryner was at the post ready and sent the ball past the goalie for the go-ahead goal, bringing the score to 3-2.

Stats
Ellie Lefever, Teagan Murrie, and Leah Bryner each had a goal for the Falcons. Audrey Weger and Hailey Womer each added an assist. The Falcons outshot the Spartans 16-11, placing 14 shots on goal to York's four. Messiah earned seven penalty corners while York earned five. Eva Hancock had two saves in goal.

Up Next
Messiah is next in action on Wednesday, October 23, when they host Widener University on Anderson Field at 7:00 p.m.