Box Score

GRANTHAM, Pa. – Messiah College scored all three of its goals over a 1:55 span early in the game and the third-ranked Falcons held on to defeat No. 15 Gettysburg 3-1 in non-conference field hockey action Tuesday evening at Anderson Field.

The loss ended Gettysburg's string of six consecutive road victories to start the season. The Bullets were facing their sixth ranked opponent of the season and their fourth top-10 foe this year.

Nikki Bailey potted the first two goals for Messiah (9-1), finding the back of the cage with 23:08 on the first-half clock, then again just over a minute later. Lauren Tennis capped the outburst with 21:13 showing, giving the Falcons an early 3-0 lead.

Messiah kept Gettysburg (8-5) off the scoreboard until junior Lexie Hearn (Old Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) drilled home an unassisted tally with 7:40 left. It was the 10th goal of the season for Hearn, who is now tied for the team lead with senior Emily Harwood (Rockville, Md./Magruder).

The Falcons finished with a 16-2 advantage in shots and an 11-6 edge in penalty corners.

Junior goalie Christina Anderson (Dunkirk, Md./The Calverton School) saved six shots for Gettysburg while Ashley Mowery made three saves for Messiah.

The Bullets return to the field on Saturday, when they visit Washington (Md.) College at 1 p.m. in a Centennial Conference game.