CARLISLE, Pa. – The No. 9 Messiah Field Hockey team opened the 2025 season at nearby Dickinson College on Friday afternoon. Messiah looked to be the offensively dominant team in both shots and shots on goal as well as with possession time. The Dickinson goalie made seven saves in the battle while Joy Lippert made four for the Falcons. After 80 minutes of scoreless action, the teams took to a penalty shootout where the Red Devils earned the 1-0 victory.

Messiah will return to action on Wednesday, September 3, when they take on Franklin & Marshall at 7:00 p.m. in their home opener on Anderson Field.

First Half
The Falcons were first to fire a shot on goal when Chelsea Carpenter battled past a pair of Red Devil defenders and fired a shot at the lower right side. The Dickinson goalie was able to block the shot and Dickinson recovered the ball. Three minutes later, it was again Carpenter looking to get the scoring started when she collected a deflection in front of cage but sent the shot right at the goalie's glove. Carpenter fired off a third shot before Aubrey Clark sent a shot just wide of goal. After a short time of Dickinson possession in their attacking half, Messiah regained control, pushing towards goal. Naomi Lyter fired a shot on goal while the Red Devils' goalie was off her line, but a defensive save kept the game tied 0-0 heading into the second quarter.

The Red Devils had their first opportunity to score just over a minute and a half into the second quarter when they were awarded the first penalty corner of the match. Dickinson fired a shot just to the right of Messiah goalie Joy Lippert, but she was able to stretch and make the save as the Falcons regained possession. Seven minutes later, the Falcons were awarded their first penalty corner of the game. Ellie Lefever fired a shot from the top of the circle, but the goalie was ready to deflect the ball away. Each team fired one more shot, but the score remained 0-0 heading into halftime.

Second Half
The first 10 minutes of the second half was spent back-and-forth without much offensive action for either team. Messiah earned a penalty corner just under ten minutes into the third quarter but were unable to get a shot off. Two minutes later the Falcons were awarded another penalty corner, one that resulted in a shot by both Caitlyn Weatherill being blocked by a Dickinson defender and one from Naomi Lyter being saved by the Dickinson goalie. Following a foul on the Red Devils, Lyter fired another shot that was once again blocked. The Falcons had one more shot blocked when Lindsey Campione looked to find the back of the cage as the teams remained tied at 0-0 with 15 minutes to play.

Neither team was able to register a shot in the fourth quarter as the back-and-forth play of the third quarter returned. Messiah and Dickinson remained scoreless after regulation and headed to overtime.

Overtime
As the number of players dropped to seven vs. seven, the Red Devils were the first with an opportunity to end the game as the first shot fired was wide and the second was saved by Joy Lippert. Momentum stayed in favor of Dickinson as they took back-to-back penalty corners but were unable to fire any shots off. As Messiah regained possession and took to their offensive end, Chelsea Carpenter fired a shot on goal for the Falcons, but the Dickinson goalie made her fourth save of the game to keep play alive. Neither team found the back of the cage, and the teams headed to second overtime.

Offensive action for the Falcons began less than a minute into the second overtime period as a penalty corner led to a pair of shots from Chelsea Carpenter that were both saved by the Dickinson goalie. The Red Devils were able to put a shot on goal, but Joy Lippert made the save for the Falcons. A second penalty corner for Messiah led to shots by Anna Bea Koenig and Casey Tyrrell but again, the Falcons were kept from finding the back of the goal. Aubrey Clark fired one final shot for the Falcons before the period came to an end, still notched 0-0.

In the penalty stroke shootout that would decide the game, the first nine penalty strokes between the two teams did not find the back of the cage. Dickinson's fifth and final shooter slid the ball past Lippert, and the Red Devils earned the 1-0 win.

Stats
The Falcons outshot the Red Devils 16-5, placing eight shots on goal. Chelsea Carpenter led the Falcons with six shots, placing all six on goal. Ellie Lefever, Aubrey Clark, and Naomi Lyter each had two shots. Messiah had seven corners while Dickinson had three. Joy Lippert had four saves in goal.

Up Next
Messiah will return to action on Wednesday, September 3, when they take on Franklin & Marshall at 7:00 p.m. in their home opener on Anderson Field.