Reading, Pa. (Nov. 8, 2014) - Fourth-seeded Messiah College (14-6) scored a pair of first-half goals en route to a 3-0 win over #2 Alvernia University (13-8) Saturday afternoon in the Commonwealth Conference Field Hockey Championship.

The Falcons got a goal and an assist from conference Rookie of the Year Carissa Gehman, and Tournament MVP Carly Day made three saves in net to earn her second shutout of the postseason.

Messiah generated back-to-back corners 14 minutes into the game with Gehman ripping a shot from the angle off the second corner that Moriah Pfautz redirected from right in front of the cage into the netting.  Gehman quickly made it 2-0 making a move past a defender and ripping another shot into the back of the cage.

Alvernia went on the offensive after a timeout getting back-to-back opportunities from Margaret Wentzel, but Day came up with the save both times.

As the clock ticked under four minutes left in the opening half, Wentzel carried an offensive possession further out in front of the cage and got past Day, but sophomore defender Sara Brooks was there for a defensive save to keep the Falcons up 2-0. 

Natalie Messaros had one more look for the Crusaders in the first half, but her shot bounced wide.

Alvernia had a chance early in the second half, but Paige Epler was just off the mark four minutes into the half.  Messiah then flipped the field and earned a corner with some relentless pursuit. The Falcons worked the ball around the circle with Becky Ely slotting a pass down toward the far post that Megan Prall finished for a 3-0 lead.

Once again the Crusaders responded with pressure, but Day was there to deny a shot from Messaros with just under 20 minutes to play, and the Crusaders were unable to geneate any more shots the rest of the way.

Senior goalie Erin Wunsch made fives saves in net for the Crusaders.

Messiah earns its eighth consecutive conference title and will earn the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAAs next week.  Alvernia will await a seeding in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Mid-Atlantic Championships which will be announced Monday afternoon.

#4 Messiah 3, #2 Alvernia 0