GRANTHAM, PA. – The nationally fifth-ranked Messiah field hockey team built a 3-0 lead in earning a 3-1 victory versus 13th-ranked Cortland Saturday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA Div. III playoffs. The Red Dragons finished their season at 18-2 and tied for ninth nationally. The Falcons improved to 18-1.
Junior
Gianna Trunfio (Clinton) scored her 21st goal of the season for Cortland. Sophomore goalie
Emma Morgan (Whitney Point) turned aside seven shots.
Nicole Shank recorded a goal and an assist for Messiah, and Kelsey Heltzel and Allie Mast each tallied a goal. Goalkeeper Catie Brubaker made two saves.
Messiah outshot Cortland, 24-4, in the game and held a 13-1 advantage on corners. After a scoreless first quarter, Shank gave the Falcons the lead at the 25:10 mark off a penalty corner. Heltzel made it a 2-0 game when she converted a penalty stroke 4:39 into the third quarter. Mast pushed the lead to 3-0 at 54:21 before Trunfio but the Red Dragons on the scoreboard with an unassisted effort just over four minutes later for the 3-1 final.
Messiah 3, Cortland 1
Scoring Summary (Goals-Assists):
Cortland:
Gianna Trunfio 1-0
Messiah: Nicole Shank 0-1, Kelsey Heltzel 1-0, Allie Mast 1-0
Halftime: Messiah 1, Cortland 0
Shots: Messiah 23, Cortland 4
Penalty Corners: Messiah 13, Cortland 1
Saves:
Emma Morgan (Cortland) 7 saves (3 GA in 60:00); Catie Brubaker (Messiah) 2 saves (1 GA in 60:00)
Record after game: Cortland (Red Dragons) 18-2 (ranked 13th in Div. III), Messiah (Falcons) 18-1 (ranked 5th in Div. III)
