WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The No. 12 Messiah University Field Hockey team is moving on to the Elite Eight after a 2-1 win over Shenandoah University on Saturday afternoon. After the score was tied 0-0 at halftime,
Leah Bryner put in a pair of goals for the Falcons in the third quarter. Shenandoah put in a late goal of their own at the end of the third, but their push was not enough, and the score remained 2-1 as the clock wound down. Messiah will now play host Williams College in the Elite Eight match-up on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1:00 PM.
First Quarter
In a battle between two ranked teams who've demonstrated success in the latter half of their seasons, play was expected to be pretty level in the competition. Messiah earned a penalty corner 37 seconds into play and looked to get the scoring started early. The Shenandoah defense prevented the Falcons from firing a shot. At the 4:09 mark,
Leah Bryner registered the first shot for either team, but she missed just wide. A minute and a half later, Messiah picked up back-to-back penalty corners but were unable to convert for a shot.
Ellie Lefever fired a shot on goal, but it was blocked by a Hornets defender.
Hailey Womer fired one last shot for the Falcons but missed just wide.
Second Quarter
It was again Messiah with the first action of the quarter when the Falcons received a penalty corner opportunity 2:10 into the quarter but Messiah was unable to convert. Four minutes later the Falcons took another penalty corner that resulted in a shot by
Teagan Murrie that was blocked. Messiah had another opportunity at the 22:38 mark when
Carrie Bair fired a shot on goal, forcing the Hornets goalie to make the save. The Falcons continued their first-half offensive dominance when
Carrie Bair fired a shot that found its way past the goalie but was saved by Hornets' defender Mallory Holup.
Audrey Weger stepped to the penalty spot when the Falcons received a penalty stroke opportunity, but Taylor Swann made a fantastic save in goal for Shenandoah to keep the score 0-0 heading into halftime.
Third Quarter
Both teams came out of the break looking to be the first on the board. Shenandoah found a surge of energy and fired back-to-back shots a minute and a half into the second half. Both shots were blocked before the Hornets were awarded their first penalty corner opportunity of the game. Shenandoah was able to convert the corner opportunity for a shot but missed wide. A second penalty corner came two minutes later but the Hornets were unable to get a shot off. The momentum shifted in favor of the Falcons as they made their way up the field.
Carrie Bair found
Leah Bryner for the first goal of the game. Just two minutes later, it was again
Carrie Bair finding
Leah Bryner who was able to slot the ball past the Shenandoah goalie to bring the Falcons lead to 2-0. Mallory Clark looked to pick up a goal of her own but had her shot blocked. The Falcons earned a penalty corner with five minutes remaining in the quarter.
Ellie Lefever fired a shot on goal, but the Hornets goalie made the save. In the next minute,
Aubrey Clark fired two shots but missed wide on both. With just a minute and a half remaining in the quarter, Shenandoah was awarded a penalty corner and Mairead McKibbin was able to convert on a pass from Camryn DeLeva to cut the Falcons lead to 2-1 heading into the final quarter of play.
Fourth Quarter
Shenandoah earned a penalty corner two minutes into the final quarter and fired a shot, but
Joy Lippert came up with the save in goal for Messiah to keep the score at 2-1.
Carrie Bair was next to fire a shot, but the Shenandoah goalie was able to make the save to keep the Falcons from increasing their lead.
Leah Bryner looked to score her third of the game but missed the goal high. Messiah had one more opportunity with five minutes to play when
Teagan Murrie fired a shot following a penalty corner, but she missed just wide. The Falcons maintained the 2-1 lead through the end of the game to secure their spot in the Elite Eight game against Williams College on Sunday, Nov. 17.
Stats
Leah Bryner led the Falcons with two goals while
Carrie Bair added two assists. Messiah placed seven of their 17 shots on goal while Shenandoah placed two of their five on goal. Messiah took seven penalty corners while Shenandoah took four.
Joy Lippert had one save in goal for Messiah.
Up Next
Messiah will now play host school Williams College in the Elite Eight match-up on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 1:00 PM.