READING, Pa. – The Albright field hockey team suffered a 4-1 loss to #12 Messiah on a rainy Saturday evening at Shirk Stadium in MAC Commonwealth play.
 
With the loss, the Lions drop to 6-12 overall and 2-4 in MAC Commonwealth play. Meanwhile, the Falcons improve to 12-4 overall and 6-0 in conference play. The Lions sit one game behind three teams vying for the last two spots in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament.
 
Messiah came out strong by getting three shots off in the first 2:10 of the game, but Lions junior goalkeeper Brynne Schoppe helped fend off the Falcon opportunities to keep it scoreless. Messiah continued to pressure throughout the first quarter, and finally broke through in the 14^th minute on a goal from Nicole Shank following a penalty corner. After getting no shots in the first quarter, junior Bailey Lehman made the most of the Lions first shot of the game in the second quarter as she scored to tie the game at one. First-year Megan Keller found Lehman open, and her shot went off Falcon goalkeeper Megan Bomba's pad before slowly rolling into the cage. Albright battled to keep the score tied throughout the second quarter, but the Falcons turned the tide of the game by scoring a goal off a penalty corner with seven seconds left.
 
The Falcons used momentum by extending its lead just 2:38 into the third quarter on a goal from Hannah Palm. Messiah made it a 4-1 game exactly three minutes later on a goal from Josie Weaver. Lehman nearly got one back for the Lions late in the third quarter as a shot went just wide of the cage. Messiah closed out the game by not allowing any Lion shots in the fourth quarter.
 
The Falcons held a sizable 21-2 shot advantage for the game, and a 15-1 advantage in shots on net. The Falcons also held a 10-3 advantage in penalty corners. Schoppe suffered the loss after making 10 saves, while Bomba earned the shutout with no saves.
 
The Lions will return to action on Wednesday, October 30^th as they will host Stevenson for a pivotal senior day contest at 5 p.m.