GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Field Hockey team hosted No. 20 Rowan University on Wednesday evening on Anderson Field. The Profs took a 2-0 lead early in the second quarter before Ellie Lefever found the back of the cage for Messiah. The Profs scored three more, earning the 5-1 win on Wednesday night. Joy Lippert made four saves in goal.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1:00 p.m. when they host The College of New Jersey on Anderson Field for Homecoming and Senior Day celebrations.

First Half
The first offensive pressure of the game came at the 5:34 mark in the first quarter when Rowan earned a penalty corner. The Profs fired off a shot but missed high. Chelsea Carpenter fired a quality shot on goal that hit the crossbar. The Falcons earned a penalty corner a short time later, but the fired shot from Ellie Lefever was saved by the Profs' goalie. Three minutes later, the Falcons earned their second penalty corner but were unable to fire a shot. In the twelfth minute, Rowan earned two penalty corners, firing three shots. Joy Lippert picked up two saves in goal for Messiah. At the 13:26 mark, Rowan found the back of the cage to take a 1-0 lead.

Messiah earned a pair of penalty corners early in the second quarter, but the Falcons were unable to fire a shot. Two minutes later, a penalty corner for the Profs resulted in a shot on goal that was saved by Joy Lippert, but the ricochet was sent back on goal for Rowan's second goal of the contest. It was just over two minutes later when Ellie Lefever scored an unassisted goal at the front of the cage to cut the deficit to one with the Profs leading 2-1. The Falcons earned a penalty corner two minutes later but were unable to register a shot. At the other end of the field, Rowan extended their lead to 3-1. Aubrey Clark and Chelsea Carpenter each fired a shot on goal that were saved by the Profs' goalie.

Second Half
The Profs struck early in the third quarter with a corner from a penalty corner less than 30 seconds in to bring the score to 4-1. A pair of penalty corners for the Falcons resulted in shots from Ellie Lefever and Casey Tyrrell that were blocked by Profs' defenders. Ana Bea Koenig fired a shot on goal that was saved by the Rowan goalie. Messiah earned a penalty corner at the 39:36 mark and Lindsey Campione fired a shot that was blocked by a Rowan defender before Lexie Zaring fired a shot that was saved by the Profs' goalie. Each team registered one more penalty corner in the third with Rowan missing a shot wide but maintaining their 4-1 lead with one quarter of play remaining.

Rowan extended their lead to 5-1 in the second minute of the final quarter before the Falcons earned a penalty corner on the other end of the field. Aubrey Clark placed a goal on frame, but the save was made. In the middle of the quarter, Joy Lippert picked up a save in goal following a shot from the Profs. The Falcons earned a late penalty corner that resulted in a shot from Casey Tyrrell that missed just wide. As the clock wound down, Aubrey Clark placed a shot on frame but the Rowan goalie came up with the save and solidified the 5-1 win for the Profs.

Stats
Ellie Lefever led the Falcons with one goal. Joy Lippert made four saves in goal. Messiah outshot Rowan 14-13, with each team putting nine shots on goal. The Falcons earned 13 penalty
corners to the Profs' nine.

Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 1:00 p.m. when they host The College of New Jersey on Anderson Field for Homecoming and Senior Day celebrations.