GRANTHAM, Pa. – The No. 22 Messiah Field Hockey team opened the 2026 season this evening on Anderson Field in exciting fashion, claiming a 3-2 overtime win against No. 9 Dickinson College. The Falcons held a 1-0 lead at halftime after
Alyssa Lewis notched her first career goal in the second quarter.
Addie Weiler joined in on the scoring with her first career tally in the third quarter. Dickinson responded quickly to cut the lead back to one goal. With under a minute to play, the Red Devils found the back of the cage to force the season opener into overtime. Just 50 seconds into overtime, the Falcons were able to capitalize on a corner opportunity when
Chelsea Carlisle found the back of the goal to give Messiah the 3-2 victory.
Anna Haberle earned the win in goal for Messiah, making two saves in her first career start.
The Falcons return to Anderson Field at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, when they host the No. 2 Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins University.
First Quarter
The Falcons began the game with possession, resulting in an early shot from
Aubrey Clark that was saved by the Dickinson goalie. Messiah earned the first penalty corner of the game, but the Falcons were unable to register an initial shot. As play continued,
Ellie Lefever had a shot blocked by a Red Devils defender. The Red Devils fired their first shot on goal just past the 10-minute mark, but
Anna Haberle was able to make the save. On the second Messiah corner of the first quarter,
Alyssa Lewis fired a shot on goal, but the Dickinson goalie made the save to keep the score 0-0.
Second Quarter
Messiah continued their offensive dominance in the second quarter, with a shot from
Addie Weiler that was saved by the Dickinson goalie.
Ellie Lefever looked to put the Falcons on the board with a shot from a penalty corner but missed just wide. At the 18-minute mark,
Alyssa Lewis put the Falcons on the board with the first goal of her career. The Red Devils had a penalty corner but were unable to convert for a goal of their own. Dickinson missed a shot wide as the Falcons held the 1-0 lead into halftime.
Third Quarter
Naomi Lyter fired a shot on goal for the Falcons, forcing another save from the Dickinson goalie.
Addie Weiler then sent the ricochet back on goal and found the back of the cage for the first goal of her career, extending the Messiah lead to 2-0. Less than a minute later, the Red Devils fired a shot on goal that was saved by
Anna Haberle. The Red Devils then took advantage of a penalty corner, cutting the Messiah lead back to one with a 2-1 score. Messiah had three penalty corner opportunities in the final nine minutes, with
Ellie Lefever having a shot on goal saved in the final seconds. With one quarter to play, Messiah continued to hold the 2-1 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Early in the fourth quarter,
Aubrey Clark had a pair of shots saved before a third was blocked. The Falcons continued the offensive pressure, with
Naomi Lyter having a shot blocked before
Chelsea Carlisle missed just wide. Carlisle then placed a shot on goal that was saved by the Dickinson goalie. With seven minutes to play,
Ellie Lefever fired a shot off the post. The Falcons were able to regain possession as
Alyssa Lewis had a shot on goal saved by the Dickinson goalie. With under five minutes to play, Dickinson took offensive control, continuing to push closer to the goal. With just under a minute remaining in regulation, the Red Devils found the back of the cage to notch the score 2-2. The Falcons held possession for the remaining time but were unable to tally a goal and the game moved to overtime.
Overtime
In the 7 vs. 7 overtime period, Messiah earned a penalty corner 34 seconds in before a secondary foul led to a second penalty corner just nine seconds later.
Ellie Lefever fired a shot on goal that was saved by the Dickinson goalie, but
Chelsea Carlisle was waiting at the post for the rebound and was able to slot the ball past the goalie, giving the Falcons the 3-2 overtime win in their season opener.
Stats
Alyssa Lewis,
Addie Weiler, and
Chelsea Carlisle each tallied a goal for the Falcons.
Anna Haberle earned the win in goal in her first career start, making two saves. Messiah outshot Dickinson 19-5, placing 13 shots on goal to Dickinson's four. The Falcons earned 12 penalty corners with the Red Devils being kept to two.
