The field hockey team (5-1) picked up two huge wins after dropping their first game this week to Ursinus College, the No. 1 team in the nation.
The game held in Collegeville, Pa., on Tuesday, Sept. 18, was a tight contest from start to finish. After an early goal by Ursinus in overtime, the College ended up on the wrong side of the 5-4 scoreboard.
Junior forward Katie Reuther had a trifecta of goals and freshman forward Leigh Mitchell scored once. Junior goalie Caitlin Gregory had five saves.
The loss to top-ranked Ursinus was the College's first loss of the year, but to sophomore forward Jess Falcone, it was a valuable game.
"I think we learned a lot from the Ursinus loss," Falcone said. "We know we have to take better care of the ball when we have the lead in a close game, and I think that definitely showed in the Messiah game."
Falcone's statement rang true as the Lions blanked the No. 2 ranked Messiah College Falcons 1-0. Reuther scored the lone goal as the Lions pleased the hometown crowd.
Gregory saved the only shot she saw for the shutout.
"We do a good job of staying calm during these close games," Falcone said. "I think we've been communicating a lot and have been backing each other up on the field."
Falcone netted two first half goals in a 4-1 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson University on Saturday. The win improved the Lions to an overall record of 5-1.
Not to be outdone, Reuther picked up the assist on Falcone's second goal. She then proceeded to notch a score of her own on a penalty stroke.
With the goal, Reuther has a team-high five goals, along with three assists. She also holds a three-game scoring streak.
Freshman midfielder Kellyn Riley rounded out the offense for the College by adding a goal of her own, assisted by Falcone. Gregory also contributed by saving a pair of shots.
The No. 3 Lions start in-conference play this week, heading north to play Montclair State University on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The team will host Manhattanville College Saturday at 3 p.m.
