YORK, Pa. – The Messiah University Field Hockey team traveled to York College to take on the Spartans in MAC Commonwealth Semifinal action on Wednesday night. The Spartans scored a goal in the first quarter and held the 1-0 lead until the 48th minute when Aubrey Clark scored her signature spin around goal to level the game at 1-1, forcing overtime. After a scoreless first overtime, the Falcons earned a penalty corner in the second overtime. A blocked shot from Naomi Lyter was followed by a hard-struck ball from Ellie Lefever that found the back of the cage to give Messiah the 2-1 victory.

The Falcons will travel to Owings Mills, Md. on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 12:00 to face the No. 1 seed Stevenson Mustangs for the MAC Commonwealth Championship.

First Half
The first quarter began much like the last time these teams met, with possession being mainly held in the midfield amongst both teams. Aubrey Clark fired an early shot for the Falcons that was blocked before missing a shot just wide two minutes later. Play continued in the midfield until York earned the first penalty corner of the game with just over three to play in the corner. The shot fired was blocked by a Falcons' defender, but a second penalty corner was awarded. York was able to capitalize on the second opportunity to take a 1-0 lead into the second quarter.

The Falcons maintained control early in the second quarter, with Chelsea Carpenter firing a shot on goal 35 seconds into play, forcing a save by the York goalie. Aubrey Clark fired a shot on goal that required a goalie save before the Falcons earned their first penalty corner of the game that resulted in a shot wide for Ellie Lefever. At the other end of the first, the Spartans had a penalty corner of their own, but their fired shot was blocked by a Messiah defender. Action continued back-and-forth with Aubrey Clark looking to score the equalizer late in the quarter with a shot that was saved by the York goalie to maintain the 1-0 Spartans' lead heading into halftime.

Second Half
Messiah came out of the break ready to score one of their own. Chelsea Carpenter fired a shot on goal that was saved by the Spartans goalie. Messiah continued possession and Audrey Weger fired a shot on goal that forced another save by the York goalie. Each team had a penalty corner in the final five minutes of the third but neither team was able to register a shot on the opportunity.

The Falcons were first to fire a shot in the fourth with Audrey Weger again being stopped by the York goalie. While playing a man-down, Lillian Peters sent a reset ball into the circle that was deflected before Aubrey Clark recovered the ball and found the back of the cage with her signature spin around shot to tie the game 1-1. Messiah continued their offensive pressure following the goal with a shot by Ellie Lefever that was blocked before the Falcons earned a penalty corner. Lefever had a shot saved by the goalie before play led to a second penalty corner for Messiah. It was again Lefever with a shot for the Falcons but was blocked by a Spartans' defender. The Falcons picked up two more penalty corners that resulted in blocked shots from Clark and Lexi Hanlin, and shots saved by the York goalie from Chelsea Carpenter, Anna Bea Koenig, and Ellie Lefever. The score remained tied 1-1 and the game moved to overtime.

Overtime
In the first overtime period, neither team registered a shot. In the second 10:00 overtime, Aubrey Clark fired a shot on goal that was saved by the Spartans' goalie. The Falcons earned a penalty corner about four and a half minutes in. Naomi Lyter fired a shot that was saved by the York goalie before Ellie Lefever recovered the ball and fired a shot straight through the middle, finding the back of the cage and giving Messiah the 2-1 victory to advance to the MAC Commonwealth Championship game on Saturday.

Stats
Messiah out shot York 22-3, placing 13 on goal. The Falcons earned seven penalty corners to the Spartans' four. Aubrey Clark and Ellie Lefever each tallied a goal.

Up Next
The Falcons will travel to Owings Mills, Md. on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 12:00 to face the No. 1 seed Stevenson Mustangs for the MAC Commonwealth Championship.