GRANTHAM, Pa. – The fifth-ranked Messiah University field hockey team defeated the Red Dragons of Cortland, 3-1 to advance to the NCAA Tournament Third Round. After a scoreless first quarter, Nicole Shank ripped a shot in the net to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead at the half. Kelsey Heltzel scored on a penalty stroke to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead headed into the fourth. Allie Mast ripped a shot from Nicole Shank that found the back of the goal to push the Falcons lead to 3-0. A late goal from the Red Dragons put the final score at 3-1.
Up next, the Falcons take on No. 1 Middlebury College Panthers tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field for a trip to the Final Four on the line.
First Quarter
The Falcons started the first quarter strong with a penalty corner opportunity in the third minute. Jenna Lutz sent the ball into play and Nicole Shank ripped a shot pass that tipped off the stick of Aubrey Clark and just wide right of the goal. The Falcons continued the attack in the fifth minute. Lindsay McFeaters got the ball in the circle and her first shot was blocked but got another opportunity on the rebound to take another shot. McFeaters' shot looked like it was going into the goal, but the Red Dragons goalkeeper made an impressive save to keep the game scoreless. The Falcons earned three more penalty corner opportunities in the quarter, but they were all shutdown by the Cortland defense.
Second Quarter
The Falcons continued to push the pace on the attack in the 19th minute with a penalty corner opportunity. Leah Bryner sent the corner into play and Nicole Shank got an open look at the goal, but her shot went just wide of the goal. The Falcons earned another penalty corner opportunity in the 25th minute. Leah Bryner sent the ball in to Allie Mast. Mast's shot pass attempt was blocked, but Nicole Shank was there to gather the ball. Shank gathered the ball and sent a shot that deflected off a Red Dragons defenders stick and into the ball of the goal to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead at the half.
Third Quarter
The Falcons offense came out the half strong with a penalty corner opportunity in the 35th minute. Jenna Lutz sent in the penalty corner and on the attempt the Falcons got off four shots that were all saved by the Red Dragons goalkeeper, though the rush from the Falcons earned a penalty stroke attempt. Kelsey Heltzel took the stroke attempt and lifted the shot into the top-right corner to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead. Both defenses shutdown each other's offenses to keep the score at 2-0 entering the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The Red Dragons opened the quarter searching for a goal to reduce the Falcons lead. In the 47th minute, Keirra Ettere got a shot off the was headed towards the back of the goal, but Catie Brubaker made an impressive save to keep the Falcons 2-0 lead. The Falcons offense continued to put the pressure on the Red Dragons throughout the quarter with five more penalty corner attempts. The final corner was the charm with an Allie Mast goal from Nicole Shank to push the Falcons lead to 3-0. The Red Dragons scored a late goal from Gianna Trunfio to put the final score at 3-1.
Stats
Nicole Shank, Kelsey Heltzel, and Allie Mast scored the goals for the Falcons. It was the first goals of the season for Heltzel and Mast. Nicole Shank also tallied an assist. The Falcons out shot the Red Dragons 23-4. Messiah had 10 shots on goal and Cortland had three. The Falcons earned 13 penalty corners to the Red Dragons one. Catie Brubaker earned the win in goal for the Falcons and recorded two saves.
Next
The Falcons take on No. 1 Middlebury College Panthers tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field for a trip to the Final Four on the line.