BOX SCORE


Reading, Pa. (Oct. 13, 2012) – Twelfth-ranked Messiah College (10-3, 5-0) scored late in the first half and again midway through the second half in a 4-0 win over Alvernia University (7-8, 2-4) Saturday evening in Commonweatlh Conference field hockey action at Schlager Memorial Field.

 

The Crusaders dominated the time of possession and shots in the first half, but the Falcons were the ones able to find the back of the cage first.  The hosts generated eight corners and 14 shots over the opening 18 minutes of play and had a few quality chances, but Messiah goalie Molly Gebrosky made six saves over the span to keep the game scoreless.

 

Messiah finally generated its first shot of the half over 20 minutes into play and developed some pressure of its own over the next nine minutes with a goal coming off the stick of Heather Quirk.  A play from the right side of the circle brought the ball in front of the Crusaders' cage and after bouncing off a few sticks, Quirk was able to slide it into the corner of the cage.

 

The teams went to the break with the guests holding a 1-0 lead and it was the Falcons who put the early pressure on in start of the second half.  Messiah cranked out seven shots over the opening 12 minutes getting the insurance goal from Juliana Hershey off a corner.  The Crusaders were able to block the first shot on the corner play, but Hershey knocked in the rebound.

 

Alvernia had a few decent opportunities to cut the lead in half over the next 20 minutes, but the Falcons poured in two more goals in the final four minutes of play to seal the win.



Alvernia goalie Erin Wunsch (West Lawn, Pa./Wilson) made nine saves in net for the Crusaders.  Gebrosky, after six in the first 18 minutes, finished with seven.



Alvernia continues the season Tuesday with a road trip to Juniata.



Messiah 4, Alvernia 0