GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah University Field Hockey team hosted Albright College on Anderson Field on Saturday afternoon. Messiah took a 3-0 lead in the first -quarter behind goals from Caitlyn Weatherill, Olivia Zaskoda, and Aubrey Clark before Clark notched one in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead at halftime. Ellie Lefever and Clark found the back of the cage in the third for a 6-0 lead. Naomi Lyter scored her first goal of the season early in the fourth before Zaskoda notched a pair to lift the Falcons to 9-0. Clark and Zaskoda led the Falcons with three goals each, while Ellie Lefever, Weatherill, and Naomi Lyter each added one. Audrey Weger tallied two assists while Kenzie Feeney added one.

The Falcons are next in action on Wednesday, Oct. 22, when they travel to Hood College at 4:00 p.m. to take on the Blazers.

First Half
The Falcons started their offensive attack early as they were awarded a penalty corner in the first minute of play. Chelsea Carpenter looked to get Messiah on the board early with a shot on goal, but it was saved by the Lions' goalie. Audrey Weger fired a second-chance shot, but it was blocked. Messiah earned a second corner just 30 seconds later. Caitlyn Weatherill had a shot blocked, but was able to fire the ricocheted ball past the goalie to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead just 1:45 into the game. Carpenter fired a shot just wide two minutes later. Messiah continued their control on offense when Lexi Hanlin tapped a ball up that was met by the stick of Kenzie Feeney. Feeney's redirect of the ball was found by Olivia Zaskoda who gave Messiah a 2-0 lead. Over the next six minutes, the Falcons earned four penalty corners. Aubrey Clark fired a pair of shots, one blocked and one saved by the goalie, while Carpenter missed one shot wide. On a corner in the 13th minute, Ellie Lefever had a shot blocked before Aubrey Clark fired a shot past the goalie to extend the lead to 3-0.

Messiah earned a penalty corner a minute in with Caitlyn Weatherill placing a shot on frame that was saved by the Albright goalie. A follow-up corner saw a shot by Lexi Hanlin blocked by a defender. After a bit of play, Audrey Weger had a smooth touch to Aubrey Clark for her second goal of the game, giving Messiah a 4-0 lead. Olivia Zaskoda and Chelsea Carpenter each had a shot blocked as the Falcons held their 4-0 lead heading into halftime.

Second Half
The second quarter was off to a bit of a slower start than the first, with the Falcons earning their first penalty corner 6:32 into play. Audrey Weger inserted the ball for Messiah and found Ellie Lefever at the top of the circle who struck a hard hit ball straight into the back of the goal. After the ball was passed around in the circle, it found the stick of Aubrey Clark who slotted it past a defender and the goalie to extend the Messiah lead to 6-0 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Olivia Zaskoda missed a shot just wide as time expired and Messiah held the 6-0 lead with 15 minutes to play.

Audrey Weger missed a shot wide and had a shot blocked to start the fourth quarter before the Falcons earned a penalty corner three minutes in. Chelsea Carpenter fired a shot that was saved by the goalie before firing a second shot that was blocked. Naomi Lyter found the loose ball and slotted it past the goalie to bring the lead to 7-0. A minute later, Messiah had another penalty corner where Lexi Hanlin missed a shot high on a lifted ball. After a shot from Aubrey Clark that was saved by the Albright goalie, Messiah earned a penalty corner. Shots from Ellie Lefever and Lexi Hanlin were saved by the goalie before Olivia Zaskoda was able to find the back of the cage for her second goal of the game. Two minutes later, Clark had a shot saved by the goalie before Zaskoda tipped the ball near the inside of the post for her third goal, extending the lead to 9-0. The Falcons had two penalty corners with three blocked shots to round out the clock.

Stats
Aubrey Clark and Olivia Zaskoda led the Falcons with three goals each, while Ellie Lefever, Caitlyn Weatherill, and Naomi Lyter each added one. Audrey Weger tallied two assists while Kenzie Feeney added one. The Falcons outshot the Lions 36-0, placing 17 on goal. Messiah earned 14 penalty corners in the win.

Up Next
The Falcons are next in action on Wednesday, Oct. 22, when they travel to Hood College at 4:00 p.m. to take on the Blazers.