No. 1 Messiah 4, Lebanon Valley 0

LVC Starters
DiMaggio, Steenkamer, Fleisher, Dombroski, Dennis, Youngs, Simon, Arnst, Fox, Gorman, Lupold

Messiah Starters
Rosenberry, Pfautz, Bower, Holt, Brooks, Donohue, Wilkerson, Landis, Gehman, Roland, Landes

How It Happened
A key 10-minute stretch late in the first half propelled No. 1 Messiah to a 4-0 victory over Lebanon Valley at Arnold Field on Saturday night, Oct. 8.

After both defenses played especially well during the contest's opening 25 minutes, the Falcons (9-1, 3-0 MAC Commonwealth) finally broke the scoreless tie when Moriah Pfautz netted the first of her three goals on the night following a feed from Nicole Wilkerson off a penalty-corner insertion with 9:54 remaining in the first half.

Messiah doubled its advantage less than four minutes later when Pfautz added her second score, this time a high arc of a shot that rainbowed over LVC goalkeeper Sarah DiMaggio and into the back of the box in the 28th minute. Carissa Gehman assisted on the marker.

Gehman got into the scoring act less than three minutes later when her point-blank attempt just barely squeezed through DiMaggio's leg pads to increase the visitor's advantage to 3-0 heading into halftime.

LVC (8-4, 1-2 MAC Commonwealth) controlled the ball more after the break than it had during the first half but the team was unable to convert any of its rare offensive opportunities. The Dutchmen managed a pair of second-half penalty corners but failed to turn the chances into points.

Pfautz capped the game's scoring by completing the hat trick in the game's 46th minute when she made a move to shake a Dutchmen defender and create just enough space to get off a well-struck shot from right of goal that found the back of the net.

Turning Point
After holding off a dangerous Messiah offense for more than 25 minutes, the Dutchmen struggled to keep that momentum rolling in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Moriah Pfautz broke through with the game's first goal at the 9:54 mark before adding a second score less than four minutes later. Carissa Gehman added a blast that just narrowly slipped through the pads of goalkeeper Sarah DiMaggio in the 31st minute and just like that the nation's top team had a comfortable lead heading into the break after being embattled in a tight contest in for most of the opening half.

Inside the Numbers
- Messiah finished with commanding leads in the total shots (23-4) and SOG (18-2) categories.
- The Falcons' aggressive offensive play was rewarded with 10 penalty corners. LVC managed just three corners on the night.
- Maddie Fox and Rachel Youngs managed the only shots on goal for the Dutchmen.
- Despite the score, Lebanon Valley's defensive line showed no letup as Rachel Gorman, Tasia Dennis, and Claire Wickenheiser each recorded a defensive save.
- LVC goalkeeper Sarah DiMaggio made six saves in the first half.
- Tori ByDeley spelled DiMaggio after halftime and made five stops, including a beautiful sliding save on a Carissa Gehman penalty stroke attempt.
- Falcon goalkeeper Shelby Landes was forced to make just two stops in earning the shutout victory.
- Messiah is the fourth nationally-ranked opponent LVC has faced this season.
- With Saturday's defeat, Lebanon Valley has suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this year.
- A number of players and coaches from LVC's 2006 NCAA Tournament Final Four team were recognized at halftime, as was newly-inducted LVC Athletic Hall of Famer Beth Light Brennan '01.

Who's Next?
The Dutchmen travel to FDU-Florham for a non-conference matchup on Wednesday night, Oct. 12.