GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Field Hockey team earned the 6-1 victory over the Roger Williams Hawks on Wednesday afternoon and will advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen this weekend. The Falcons will travel to Williams College where they will face off against the Shenandoah Hornets. Leah Bryner and Hailey Womer found the back of the cage in the first quarter with Anna Koenig adding a goal in the second to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead at halftime. Audrey Weger added a goal 35 seconds into the third quarter and Leah Bryner added her second goal of the game to give Messiah a 5-0 lead with one quarter remaining. Hailey Womer scored her second goal of the game in the fourth to give the Falcons a 6-0 lead. The Hawks were able to find the back of the cage in the 53rd minute to avoid the shut out to end their season.

Up next, the Falcons will travel to Williams College to take on the Hornets of Shenandoah University in a Sweet Sixteen matchup. Action will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.

First Quarter
Action was off to a slow start in the beginning minutes of play with neither team finding a chance to put a shot out. Messiah picked up their first penalty corner at the 6:49 mark. Teagan Murrie fired a shot on goal, but the Hawks goalie was able to make the save. At the 8:17 mark, Leah Bryner put a ball past the goalie for the first goal of the game, giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. With 3:30 to play, Messiah earned their second penalty corner of the game. After a successful string of passes, Mallory Kline found Hailey Womer for the second goal of the game. Chelsea Carpenter looked to increase the lead to three before the break but missed just wide.

Second Quarter
Messiah looked to continue their offensive dominance after the break and picked up their first penalty corner of the second quarter just 26 seconds into play. Anna Koenig was able to fire of a shot, but it was blocked by a Roger Williams defender. Two minutes later, Aubrey Clark dribbled towards goal but had her shot blocked. Messiah earned back-to-back penalty corners but both Teagan Murrie's and Chelsea Carpenter's shots were saved by the Hawks goalie. With eight minutes remaining in the first half, Jenna Lutz found Anna Koenig who slotted a ball past the goalie to bring the Falcons' lead to 3-0. Teagan Murrie fired a shot with six seconds left in the half, but the Hawks' goalie made the save and Messiah took their 3-0 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter
Coming out of halftime, Messiah again earned an early penalty corner just 25 seconds into play. Jenna Lutz fired a shot that was saved by the Roger Wiliams goalie before a foul was committed and Messiah was awarded a penalty stroke. Audrey Weger stepped up to the line and placed a beautiful shot in the top left corner, just tipping the stick of the Hawks' goalie. Just 33 seconds later, Anna Koenig intercepted a pass and crossed a ball across the circle in front of the goal where Leah Bryner was able to tip it into the goal to bring the Falcons' lead to 5-0. Messiah fired nine more shots during the third quarter, forcing the Roger Williams' goalie to make five saves, and were unable to put another in the cage.

Fourth Quarter
The Falcons again did not let up on the offensive attack with the start of the final quarter of play. Carrie Bair fired a shot just 22 seconds in but missed wide. Roger Williams earned their first penalty corner 1:15 into the fourth. They were able to convert the penalty corner for a shot on goal, but Joy Lippert made the save in goal for Messiah. Messiah earned a penalty corner of their own at the other end of the field and did not immediately convert it for a shot. After a string of passes, Carrie Bair was able to fire a ball towards the goal where Hailey Womer was able to strike it in to bring the Messiah lead to 6-0 with 12:45 remaining in the game. A minute later, the Hawks fired a shot on goal and Joy Lippert again came up with the save. With just over seven minutes to play, Roger Williams picked up their second corner of the game. The Messiah defense was able to prevent a shot in the initial attempt, but Chelsea King was able to get a stick on what would've been a through ball to net her 22nd goal of the season. Roger Williams fired off one final shot the was saved by Joy Lippert that ended both teams' offensive attacks.

Stats
Leah Bryner and Hailey Womer lead the Falcons with two goals apiece. Anna Koenig and Audrey Weger each added one. Mallory Kline, Jenna Lutz, Anna Koenig, and Carrie Bair each earned an assist in the game. Messiah out shot Roger Williams 26 to five, placing 16 shots on goal to four. The Falcons earned 13 penalty corners while the Hawks earned three. Joy Lippert made three saves in goal for Messiah, all in the final quarter.

Up Next
The Falcons will travel to Williams College to take on the Hornets of Shenandoah University in a Sweet Sixteen matchup. Action will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16.