OWINGS MILLS, Md. – On Saturday afternoon, the sixteenth-ranked Messiah University field hockey team used a four-goal second half to cruise to a 5-2 win over the twenty-fourth-ranked Mustangs of Stevenson University. The Falcons got off to a strong start with a Jenna Lutz goal in the seventh minute to give the Falcons an early 1-0 lead. Neither team could score for the rest of the first half and the Falcons took the 1-0 lead into the break. The Falcons entered the second half looking to add to their lead with third quarter goals from Leah Bryner and Hailey Womer to push the Falcons lead to 3-0 headed into the final quarter. The Mustangs added two goals in the fourth, but Womer and Carrie Bair each scored a goal in the fourth to give the Falcons a 5-2 win.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Blazers of Hood College on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m.
 
First Quarter
The Falcons look to set the tone early in the game. Hailey Womer and Jenna Lutz each sent shots on goal, but the Stevenson goalie made two early saves to keep the game scoreless. In the seventh minute though, the Falcons looked to get on the board first. After forcing a turnover near the circle, Jenna Lutz dribbled the ball into the circle and ripped a shot on goal. Lutz's shot deflected off the Stevenson goalie, but the shot was too strong and went into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons earned a couple of penalty corners in the rest of the first quarter, but did not add to their 1-0 lead.
 
Second Quarter
The Falcons started the second quarter strong with shots on goal from Mallory Kline and Anna Koenig, but each shot was saved by the Stevenson goalie to keep the score at 1-0.  In the 22nd minute, the Mustangs looked to get on the board. Stevenson sent two shots on goal, but Joy Lippert made each of the saves to keep the Falcons one-goal lead. The Falcons finished the half with a Leah Bryner shot on goal, but the Stevenson goalie made another save to put the score at 1-0 headed into the break.
 
Third Quarter
After a couple of chances in the second quarter, the Falcons looked to extend their lead just three minutes into the third quarter. Anna Koenig started the play with a long pass from the Falcons defense to Aubrey Clark at the midfield line. Clark dribbled the ball towards the circle and sent a pass to Leah Bryner at the top of the circle. Bryner made a move past a Stevenson defender and then made another move past the goalkeeper and shot the ball into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead. The Falcons though were not content with the two-goal cushion. After a misplay by a Mustangs defender just behind the midline, Hailey Womer got possession with just one defender to beat. Womer moved past the defender and then sent a shot past the Mustangs goalkeeper to push the Falcons lead to 3-0 in the 38th minute. The Falcons kept on the attack with three shots on goal from Chelsea Carpenter, but each shot was saved by the Mustangs' goalkeeper and the score remained 3-0 headed into the final quarter.  
 
Fourth Quarter
Just three minutes into the fourth quarter the Mustangs looked to start the comeback with a penalty stroke goal to reduce the Falcons lead to 3-1. The Falcons though were not finished adding to their lead. In the 50th minute, Hailey Womer once again used her speed to get past the Stevenson defense and then made a move past the Stevenson goalie to extend the Falcons lead to 4-1. Just a couple minutes later, the Falcons went on the attack again. After a restart, Teagan Murrie played a ball into the circle. After bouncing off a few players sticks right in front of the goal, the ball found Carrie Bair, and Bair sent the shot into the back of the goal to push the Falcons lead to 5-1. The Mustangs added a goal off a penalty corner in the 53rd minute to reduce the Falcons lead to 5-2. The score remained the same in the final seven minutes to give the Falcons the 5-2 win. 
 
Stats
Hailey Womer led the Falcons with two goals. Leah Bryner, Jenna Lutz, and Carrie Bair each added a goal for the Falcons. Aubrey Clark also tallied an assist. The Falcons totaled 21 shots with 15 shots on goal. The Mustangs tallied seven shots with seven shots on goal. The Mustangs earned 10 corners, and the Falcons earned nine. Joy Lippert earned the win in goal for the Falcons and made a career-high five saves.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Blazers of Hood College on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7:00 p.m.