Reading, Pa (October 21, 2023) - #4 Messiah University (13-1, 5-0) scored four second half goals en route to a 5-2 victory over Alvernia University (6-9, 2-3) in a MAC Commonwealth field hockey matchup Saturday afternoon at Alvernia. 

The Golden Wolves and the Falcons were locked at one at the half but two goals in the third quarter and two more in the fourth quarter saw Messiah take the 5-2 victory over Alvernia. 

The Falcons struck first just under six minutes into the game when Teagan Murrie assisted Nicole Shank to give Messiah an early 1-0 lead. 

Messiah tallied five more shots and four corners in the final nine minutes of the quarter but the Alvernia defense held strong with Alvernia goalie Lexi Boettcher saving one shot and numerous Golden Wolves blocking Messiah shots to keep the game at 1-0 after 15 minutes of play. 

The Golden Wolves found an equalizer just under two minutes into the second quarter after Alvernia was awarded a penalty corner. Alvernia's Olivia Hess inserted the corner to Kathryn Palmer, Palmer then fired the ball to the stick of Gianna DeGregory who fired her shot inside the near post and past the Messiah goalie to even the game at one. 

Messiah sent five shots at the Alvernia goal with three going on target but Alvernia's Boettcher saved all three to keep the game tied at one heading into the half. 

The Falcons regained the lead just two minutes into the second half when Shank assisted Madi Johnson to put Messiah up 2-1 early in the second half. 

Messiah made it 3-1 in the final five minutes of the third quarter when Lindsay McFeaters connected with Aubrey Clark who found the back of the net to extend the Falcons lead to two heading into the final 15 minutes of play. 

The Falcons fired six shots at the Alvenia net in the first ten minutes of the fourth quarter before Ellie Lefever put the ball in the back of the net to make it a 4-1 game. 

The Golden Wolves responded with a goal in the final minute of the game when DeGregory fired a shot toward the Messiah goal, Caroline Martin crashed the goal and got her stick on it and directed the ball into the goal to make it a 4-2 game. 

The Falcons put one more on the board in the final 30 seconds of the contest when Audrey Weger recorded a goal to secure the 5-2 victory for the Falcons. 

DeGregory led the Golden Wolves with a goal and an assist, Martin tallied the second goal for Alvernia and Palmer tallied an assist. Abbie Buck and Rori Caulfield both sent shots at the Messiah net with Buck sending a shot on frame. 

The Golden Wolves are back in action on Wednesday when they host Stevenson in a MAC Commonwealth matchup at 7:00 PM.