GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday afternoon, the No. 9 Messiah University Field Hockey team fell to No. 4 Salisbury University on Anderson Field with a final score of 4-0. The top ten match-up started with even play through a scoreless first quarter before the Sea Gulls took a 2-0 lead before halftime. After the break, the Sea Gulls extended their lead with a penalty stroke in the third quarter and finalized the 4-0 win at the 51-minute mark. Aubrey Clark and Chelsea Carpenter led the Falcons with two shots each, while Joy Lippert made four saves in goal for Messiah.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday, September 13 at 4:00 p.m. when they travel to Montclair State.

First Half
The beginning of the contest proved to be the top ten matchup that was to be expected as both teams fired a shot on goal in the opening two minutes. Chelsea Carpenter fired a shot on goal just a minute and a half into play, forcing the Salisbury goalie to make a save. On the other end of the field, Salisbury fired a shot on goal that Joy Lippert was able to save to keep the score 0-0 early on. The next ten minutes was played back-and-forth between the teams before Salisbury earned the first penalty corner of the game at 12:35. The Sea Gulls' shot that was fired off was blocked by a Messiah defender but a foul from the Falcons resulted in a second penalty corner. The Sea Gulls were again able to fire off a shot but missed wide and the match remained scoreless.

Both teams came out of the break ready to attack and it was the Sea Gulls with the first opportunity with a corner three minutes in. The shot was on goal, but Joy Lippert made the save for the Falcons. At the other end of the field, Caitlyn Weatherill fired a shot on goal for the Falcons, but the Salisbury goalie made the save. In transition the Sea Gulls fired a shot on goal that slipped past Lippert to take a 1-0 lead. Two and a half minutes later Joy Lippert made a save but the Sea Gulls recovered the ball and the return shot extended the Salisbury lead to 2-0.

Second Half

The Sea Gulls carried momentum into the second half with a penalty corner that resulted in a wide shot. Four minutes later the Sea Gulls knocked in a penalty stroke to take a 3-0 lead. Olivia Zaskoda was able to fire a shot on goal, but the Salisbury goalie made the stop. Blocked shots from Aubrey Clark and Chelsea Carpenter kept the Messiah deficit at 3-0. A late penalty corner couldn't be converted for a shot and the score remained 3-0 with one period remaining.

Messiah earned an early chance with a penalty corner but the shot from Aubrey Clark was saved by the Sea Gulls goalie. A second Messiah penalty corner was followed by a penalty corner for the Sea Gulls. Salisbury fired a shot, but Joy Lippert came up with the save. After a few quick passes, the Sea Gulls found the back of the net to extend the lead to 4-0. The Falcons were unable to register a shot as the clock ran down and the Sea Gulls took the 4-0 win in the top ten matchup.

Stats
Aubrey Clark and Chelsea Carpenter each had two shots for the Falcons, while Joy Lippert made four saves in goal.

Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Saturday, September 13 at 4:00 p.m. when they travel to Montclair State.