GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah University Field Hockey team returned to Anderson Field on Saturday afternoon to take on the Eagles of Eastern University. The Falcons held a 4-0 lead after a pair of first-half goals by Aubrey Clark and goals by Olivia Zaskoda and Audrey Weger. In the third quarter, Ellie Lefever tallied a goal before the Eagles found the cage to bring the score to 5-1 in favor of the Falcons. Clark tallied a goal to open the fourth quarter before Chelsea Carpenter scored a pair to extend the Messiah lead to 8-1. Kenzie Feeney was able to find the back of the cage before Clark found the cage for the fourth time of the game to solidify the 10-1 victory.

The Falcons will return to Anderson Field on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7:00 p.m. when they host the Spartans of York College.

First Half
The Falcons were off to a quick start with Naomi Lyter firing a shot on goal 1:24 into play. The Eagles' goalie was able to make the save, but Aubrey Clark recovered the ball and found the back of the cage to give Messiah an early 1-0 lead. Clark fired a shot on the next possession but missed just wide. Messiah earned their first penalty corner three minutes into play, which resulted in a shot on goal from Chelsea Carpenter that was saved by an Eastern defender. A secondary penalty corner saw a shot by Mattie Hartzler blocked. Anna Bea Koenig missed a shot just wide, and Audrey Weger had a shot blocked before time expired.

Olivia Zaskoda was quick to extend the Messiah lead in the second quarter with a goal just 28 seconds into play following a shot by Lexi Hanlin that was saved by the Eagles' goalie. Just 33 seconds later, Hanlin found Audrey Weger for another goal, extending the Falcons' lead to 3-0. After a pair of off-target shots, Olivia Zaskoda had a shot saved by the Eastern goalie. Aubrey Clark recovered the ball and notched her second goal of the game. Naomi Lyter and Hanlin each fired a shot on goal that were saved by the Eagles' goalie. Eastern earned their first penalty corner with a minute remaining in the first half and fired a shot on goal that was saved by Joy Lippert as Messiah held a 4-0 lead at halftime.

Second Half
Messiah earned a penalty corner two minutes into play that resulted in a shot on goal by Ellie Lefever. After the Eastern goalie made the save, Lefever was able to find the cage on the second chance shot to extend the lead to 5-0. Lefever then had a shot saved by the Eagles' goalie before Audrey Weger looked to have an open shot past a diving goalie, but an Eastern defender stepped in to make the save and keep the score at 5-0. At the other end of the field, Eastern was able to fire a cross-cage shot into the top corner to get on the board with five seconds remaining in the quarter to bring the Messiah lead to 5-1 with one quarter of play remaining.

In the final quarter of play, the Falcons earned a penalty corner a minute into play and Audrey Weger sent the ball in and was tipped by Aubrey Clark to notch her third goal of the game. Just a minute later, Chelsea Carpenter fired a shot on goal that was saved by the Eagles' goalie. Weger then fired a shot the was also saved by the goalie but Messiah was able to maintain possession and Carpenter's second shot found the back of the goal, bringing the score to 7-1. Ellie Lefever looked to add to the tally with a shot on goal that was saved but the resulting penalty corner for the Falcons resulted in a goal for Carpenter off a pass from Lefever. In the next five minutes, Anna Bea Koenig and Lexie Zaring each had a shot saved by the goalie with Olivia Zaskoda having a pair saved. As the Falcons sent the ball up into the circle, Kenzie Feeney was able to get a stick on it and work around a defender to slot the ball past the goalie for the Falcons' ninth goal of the game. Messiah's final tally came with just under a minute left when Aubrey Clark found the back of the goal for the fourth time, bringing the score to 10-1 in favor of Messiah.

Stats
Aubrey Clark led the Falcons with four goals while Chelsea Carpenter added a pair. Audrey Weger and Ellie Lefever each tallied a goal and an assist. Kenzie Feeney and Olivia Zaskoda each tallied a goal while Lexi Hanlin added an assist. Messiah outshot Eastern 34-5, placing 28 shots on goal. The Falcons picked up six penalty corners and Joy Lippert made three saves in goal for the Falcons.

Up Next
The Falcons will return to Anderson Field on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 7:00 p.m. when they host the Spartans of York College.