GRANTHAM, Pa.- Entering this afternoon's action at Messiah College, Eastern University Field Hockey had beaten a pair of teams ranked in the NFHCA top ten. There would be no upset today, as the No. 7 Falcons defended their home turf with a 5-0 win.

Messiah (6-3) scored on an eighth minute deflection by Emily Hursch to grab a 1-0 lead, and they doubled their edge on the third penalty corner of the contest in the 19th minute. The hosts then increased the lead to 3-0 with just over two minutes to play in the half.

Messiah controlled the play in the opening half with an 8-1 advantage in shots and a 7-1 edge in penalty corners. Things opened up significantly in the second half. Both teams fired 15 shots, and the Eagles forced Messiah goalie Molly Gebrosky to make five of her six saves before the home side added a fourth in the 55th minute.

Messiah closed out the match with a goal in the 60th minute. 

The Eagles (5-5) will look to get back on track at Haverford College on Thursday evening before returning home for a rematch of last year's Freedom Conference Championship game against King's College on Saturday morning.