Box Score

GRANTHAM, Pa. – Aftan Fisher scored three goals and had two assists as top-seeded and third-ranked Messiah College defeated third-seeded and 12th-ranked Lebanon Valley 5-0 in the Commonwealth Conference field hockey championship game Saturday afternoon.

With the win, Messiah (17-2) earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Lebanon Valley (16-5) will now await a possible at-large berth in the NCAA tournament or an ECAC bid. The NCAA tournament field will be announced late Sunday evening while ECAC brackets are released on Monday.

LVC blanked the Falcons over the game’s opening 30 minutes before Fisher scored her first goal with 4:22 left in the opening period. Lindsey Hunter scored just under two minutes later to give Messiah a 2-0 halftime lead.

Ashley Lobach pushed the Falcons’ advantage to 3-0 when she scored with 21:40 to go, and Fisher added a pair of insurance goals to set the final score.

Junior goalie Katie Pawlewicz made 15 saves for Lebanon Valley while Renee Herbster had three stops for Messiah.

Lebanon Valley    0     0    -    0
Messiah                2     3    -    5

M – Aftan Fisher (Jenna Schwind), 4:22
M – Lindsey Hunter (Aftan Fisher), 2:42
M – Ashley Lobach (Aftan Fisher), 21:40
M – Aftan Fisher (Lindsey Hunter), time unavailable
M – Aftan Fisher (unassisted), time unavailable

Shots: Lebanon Valley 11. Messiah 29.
Saves: Lebanon Valley (Katie Pawlewicz) 15. Messiah (Renee Herbster) 3.
Penalty Corners: Lebanon Valley 7. Messiah 17.
Team Records: Lebanon Valley 16-5. Messiah 17-2.

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