GRANTHAM, Pa. – Facing the defending national runner-up, the Albright Lions field hockey team dropped a 4-0 contest to #2 Messiah on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth play.
 
With the loss, the Lions drop to 5-7 on the season overall and 1-2 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Falcons improve to 11-0 overall and 3-0 in MAC Commonwealth action.
 
Albright's defense started strong early as they limited the Falcons to their first shot until the sixth minute of the game. The Falcons began pouncing with four shots in a five-minute span but were kept off the board by the Lions. Messiah finally broke through in the 14^th minute to take a 1-0 lead after the ball was swatted out of the air and into the net following a high pass. The relentless Falcons continued to control play in their own end and would take a 2-0 lead on a penalty stroke goal in the 31^st minute before half. Messiah tallied 16 shots in the first half with eight of them being saved by sophomore goalkeeper Brynne Schoppe.
 
Messiah immediately gained control and sent four shots at the Lions net in the first two minutes of the second half. On the fifth shot, the Falcons found the back of the net and made it a 3-0 game following a penalty corner opportunity. The Falcons tallied one last goal in the 50^th minute following a long pass into the box that was pushed into the net. Albright registered its only shot of the game in the 56^th minute when senior Lindsey Hecker had her shot saved in front by the Falcons goalkeeper.
 
The Falcons finished with a 30-1 shot advantage and a 15-2 advantage in penalty corners. Schoppe put in a valiant effort in net by making a career-high 14 saves in the loss. Falcons goalkeeper Shelby Landes earned the win after making one save in 55:20 minutes of action.
 
The Lions will return to action on Wednesday, October 10^th when they will travel to face DeSales in non-conference action at 7 p.m.