OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Messiah Field Hockey team traveled to Stevenson University to take on the Mustangs in the MAC Commonwealth Championship on Saturday, Nov. 8. The Falcons trailed the Mustangs early with a Stevenson goal in the 12th minute. Messiah fought for a scoring opportunity but was unable to find the back of the cage and finished as the MAC Commonwealth Runner-Up following the 1-0 loss.

The Falcons now wait their fate with the NCAA DIII Field Hockey Selection Show that is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9. Messiah will hope to hear their name called for an at-large bid to the 2025 National Tournament.

First Half
The MAC Commonwealth Championship started much like when the Falcons and Spartans met earlier this season, with the teams trading possession, unable to find an offensive opportunity. About 6:30 into play, Ellie Lefever was able to fire a shot on goal that was saved by the Stevenson goalie. Messiah then earned a penalty corner that resulted in a shot on goal from Anna Bea Koenig that was also saved by the Mustangs' goalie. At the other end of the field, Stevenson earned their first penalty corner, but the Falcons defense prevented them from registering a shot. Three minutes later the Mustangs earned a second penalty corner, and they were able to find the back of the cage to take a 1-0 lead. Olivia Zaskoda looked to score the equalizer on the next possession, but the Stevenson goalie came up with the save and the Mustangs took the 1-0 lead into the second quarter.

The Falcons continued to add pressure in the second quarter, still searching for the equalizer goal. Messiah earned a penalty corner 19 seconds in that resulted in a shot just wide from Mattie Hartzler. In the 16th minute, the Falcons earned a pair of penalty corners that resulted in a blocked shot from Ellie Lefever and a shot on goal by Lefever that was saved by the Mustangs' goalie to maintain the 1-0 lead. Two minutes later the Falcons earned another pair of penalty corners that resulted in blocked shots from Aubrey Clark and Lefever. After trading possession for two minutes, Chelsea Carpenter fired a shot that was blocked by a Stevenson defender. Audrey Weger fired a shot just wide before the end of the period, with Stevenson maintaining their 1-0 lead into halftime.

Second Half
The second half looked reminiscent of the first, with possession trading and the Falcons offensive opportunities outnumbering those of the Mustangs. Messiah earned their first penalty corner of the second half about seven minutes into play, resulting in a shot on goal for Anna Bea Koenig that was saved by the Stevenson goalie. Three Falcon penalty corners in a minute resulted in another shot from Koenig saved by the goalie. Messiah had two more penalty corners in the final four minutes with a shot wide from Aubrey Clark and one blocked as well as a shot from Mattie Hartzler that was saved by the Mustangs' goalie.

With one quarter remaining, Stevenson was the first with an offensive opportunity, earning a penalty corner 2:32 into the final quarter. A shot fired on goal was saved by Joy Lippert before a second shot was blocked by a Messiah defender. Stevenson earned a pair of penalty corners resulting in a pair of blocked shots as the clock continued to wind down. With just under five minutes to play, Messiah earned a string of three penalty corners, first with a shot from Caitlyn Weatherill saved by the Mustangs' goalie before Aubrey Clark and Anna Bea Koenig had shots blocked. In the 57th minute, Stevenson earned four penalty corners and Messiah kept them from firing a shot on the first three. On the fourth corner, Stevenson fired a shot that was blocked before a second shot was saved by Joy Lippert in goal. The Falcons earned a penalty corner with one minute remaining, with Aubrey Clark firing a shot that was blocked before Stevenson ran down the clock and earned the 1-0 win and the MAC Commonwealth Championship title.

Stats
Messiah outshot Stevenson 19-7, placing eight on goal. The Falcons tallied 16 corners to nine for the Mustangs.

Up Next
The Falcons now wait their fate with the NCAA DIII Field Hockey Selection Show that is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9. Messiah will hope to hear their name called for an at-large bid to the 2025 National Tournament.