Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University field hockey team looks to get back on track as they host Messiah for a Saturday evening slate

GAME INFO
The game from Sprague Field is set for a 4:00 p.m. start. Live coverage of the game can be found at montclairathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Montclair fell on the road in their matchup at Vassar, 5-2 on Wednesday. Vassar saw most of the first period look offensively, outshooting Montclair, 5-1. BELLA HEISER took the lone shot of the quarter in the ninth minute, but missed wide. SYDNEY WHITE stood strong in the cage with three saves but was unable to recover after a save at the 14:18 timestamp and a rebound shot scored to put the Brewers up 1-0. Defense was strong in the second quarter. Vassar collected the lone shot of the quarter in the 20^th minute, which was stopped by White, and the game remained 1-0. Third-period defense helped Vassar seize momentum in the game. They limited Montclair to zero shots and extended the lead to 2-0 in the 40^th minute with a goal. The fourth period saw a flurry of goals. Vassar pushed its lead out to 3-0 just a few minutes into the final frame, but was answered quickly in the 48^th minute when a penalty corner set SADIE EICHLIN up for their first goal of the game and cut the lead to 3-1. The Brewers put the game out of reach with goals in the 49^th and 50^th minutes of the game to take a 5-1 lead. The Red Hawks did not go down without a fight, however, as Heiser assisted KELLY WESTERVELT for the final goal of the game at the 56:02 mark, and the game went final at 5-2.
  
 
2025 TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (1-3)
Goals: SADIE EICHLIN, 2
Assists: Two Tied with 2
Points: SADIE EICHLIN, 4
Shots: NATALIE SURMA, 10
Saves: SYDNEY WHITE, 34
Wins: SYDNEY WHITE, 1
 
VASSAR COLLEGE (1-2)
Goals: Zoe Robinson, 3
Assists: Karina Hoffman, 2
Points: Zoe Robinson, 6
Shots: Zoe Robinson, 13
Saves: Grace Wiley, 6
Wins: Grace Wiley, 1

SCOUTING MESSIAH
The Falcons, after starting the season as the #9 team in the country according to the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association, have struggled early this season and are still searching for its first win. In their last game, they dropped a 4-0 decision to #3 Salisbury this past Saturday. In 2024, Messiah was 16-6 and had a perfect 7-0 record in MAC Commonwealth conference play. They entered the conference tournament as the top seed and defeated Alvernia 7-1 to advance to the conference finals, where they dropped a 1-0 overtime game to York. Messiah earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the elite eight after wins against Roger Williams (6-1) and Shenandoah (2-1). They faced off against Williams and fell 2-1. According to the 2025 MAC Commonwealth Preseason Poll, Messiah is the favorite to win the conference this season.  

SERIES HISTORY
Montclair and Messiah will face off for the seventh time in program history. The Falcons have complete control of the series with a perfect 6-0 record against the Red Hawks.

LAST MEETING
These two teams met last season on October 5, where Messiah won by a score of 5-1.   

UP NEXT
Montclair will head to Center Valley, Pa, on Wednesday, September 17, when they take on DeSales at 7:00 p.m.