GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah University Falcons hosted The College of New Jersey on Saturday afternoon for the Falcons' Homecoming contest. The Falcons dominated the first half, earning four penalty corners and firing seven shots while holding TCNJ to no penalty corners and no shots. Olivia Zaskoda put the Falcons on the board early in the third with a pass from Ellie Lefever before the Lions put in the tying goal. Zaskoda then found the back of the cage off a pass from Chelsea Carpenter with 10 minutes remaining in the game to take back the lead at 2-1. A goal from Caitlyn Weatherill with an assist from Anna Bea Koenig gave the Falcons the 3-1 lead that they maintained through the end of the game.

The Falcons return to action on Friday, October 10, when they travel to Reading, Pa. to open Commonwealth conference play at 4:00 p.m. against the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University.

First Half
Messiah was dominant in the first quarter, earning a pair of penalty corners and firing five shots. Ellie Lefever placed a shot on frame two minutes into play that was saved by the Lions' goalie. The Falcons first corner came at 4:24, resulting in a second shot on goal by Lefever, again saved by the TCNJ goalie. Less than a minute later, a second penalty corner for Messiah resulted in a pair of shots for Caitlyn Weatherill, first saved by the goalie before a defensive save on the second attempt shot. Chelsea Carpenter fired a shot on goal that was saved by the TCNJ goalie at the 7:49 mark before the remaining time in the first quarter expired with no shots fired from either team.

It took a bit more time for the attacking action to begin in the second quarter, with Messiah earning a penalty corner just over four minutes in. Caitlyn Weatherill was able to fire off a shot that was blocked by the goalie before a Lions' defender cleared the deflection. Following a foul from the Lions, another penalty corner for Messiah allowed Anna Bea Koenig to fire a shot on goal, again saved by the Lions' goalie. Both teams remained shotless as the teams entered halftime 0-0.

Second Half
Messiah was again first to attack with a shot from Ellie Lefever being blocked by a Lions' defender. Just over three minutes later, Ellie Lefever found Olivia Zaskoda for the first goal of the game as Messiah took the 1-0 lead six minutes into the third quarter. A minute later, TCNJ earned their first penalty corner of the contest, but the Lions were unable to fire a shot. They earned a second penalty corner four minutes later and were able to find the back of the cage to tie the game. In the last minute of play, the Falcons earned a pair of penalty corners and Anna Bea Koenig fired a shot that was blocked and her second attempt shot was saved by the Lions' goalie. On the second corner, Chelsea Carpenter missed a shot just wide and the score remained 1-1.

Chelsea Carpenter and Olivia Zaskoda each fired a shot on goal in the first minute of the fourth quarter that were saved by the TCNJ goalie. The Falcons then earned a penalty corner that resulted in a shot on goal from Lexie Zaring that was saved by the Lions' goalie. A Messiah penalty corner resulted in a blocked shot by Ellie Lefever before Zaskoda missed just wide. The Falcons maintained possession and Audrey Weger fired a shot that was saved by the TCNJ goalie. With ten minutes remaining in play, Chelsea Carpenter found Olivia Zaskoda to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. Just over three minutes later, Messiah earned a penalty corner where Lexie Zaring found Caitlyn Weatherill to extend the Falcons' lead to 3-1 with just under six minutes remaining in regulation. As the clock wound down, neither team fired a shot, and Messiah earned the 3-1 win.

Stats
Olivia Zaskoda led the Falcons with two goals while Caitlyn Weatherill added one. Ellie Lefever, Chelsea Carpenter, and Anna Bea Koenig each picked up an assist. The Falcons outshot the Lions 20-1, placing 15 on goal. Messiah earned 10 penalty corners to the TCNJ's two.

Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Friday, October 10, when they travel to Reading, Pa. to open Commonwealth conference play at 4:00 p.m. against the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University.