OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Juniors Holli Eppley and Rosemarie Neiva both tallied a goal as the Stevenson field hockey team fell 4-2 versus No. 20 Messiah in a MAC Commonwealth contest Saturday evening at Mustang Stadium.

Just over nine minutes into the first half, Messiah's Moriah Pfautz redirected a shot from Lindsay Bower at the top of the circle to put the Falcons up 1-0.

Two minutes later, Stevenson (4-7, 1-1 MAC Commonwealth) earned back-to-back penalty corners and shots from Eppley.  After her first attempt was blocked, Eppley tied the game at 1-1 after freshman Marissa Hoffman controlled the ball and passed it between a defenders legs.

In the 25th minute, Messiah (6-4, 2-0 MAC Commonwealth) pushed their lead back to one when Carissa Gehman redirected a shot from Emily Rebright.  The teams went back and forth for the remainder of the opening half as the Falcons took a 2-1 advantage into the break.

The Falcons scored just 1:55 into the second half on their first shot attempt when Pfautz gathered the ball in the middle and buried a close shot, extending their lead to two.    

With 5:19 left in the game, Neiva dribbled up the left-side and got behind her defender before shooting over the right shoulder of the goalie, cutting Stevenson's deficit to one.  The goal was Neiva's eighth in her last six games.

The Falcons halted the Mustangs comeback after Rubright scored in front of the goal off of a pass from Rosenberry.

Freshman Talia Parrish finished with three saves.

Messiah outshot the Mustangs 12-9 and held an 8-7 advantage in penalty corners.

Stevenson returns to action on Wednesday, October 7 when the Mustangs travel to York (Pa.).  Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.