MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College field hockey team dropped its United East Conference opener to Penn State Harrisburg in an 5-1 final on Sunday morning.

The Lions tallied one goal in the first quarter as sophomore Rachel Lane (Elizabethtown, Pa.) found the back of the cage at 7:25 off an assist from classmate Gianna Grelli (Hanover, Pa.).

Penn State Harrisburg added another in the second stanza after first-year Sadie Cook (Christiana, Pa.) scored with the assist going to Lane at 28:09 to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.

The home team registered a pair in the third quarter as Lane recorded her second of the game at 33:48 and then first-year Anna Moyer (Lebanon, Pa.) put a shot home at 37:38 to build a 4-0 advantage with one frame to play.

The teams traded goals in the final quarter for the 5-1 final. McKenzie Grady picked up her first goal of the season, coming off a helper from graduate student Natalie Rocuskie (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) at 48:04. The Falcons got on the scoreboard at 53:54 after junior Olivia Horninger (Friedens, Pa./Northern Lehigh) set up sophomore Sydney Jeker (Sciota, Pa./Pleasant Valley) for her fourth goal of the season, which is tied for the team lead.

Penn State Harrisburg doubled up Cedar Crest in shots, 12-6, and in penalty corners, 6-3. Horninger paced the Falcons with three shots, followed by Jeker with two and junior Avery Daku (Northampton, Pa./Catasauqua) with one.

Sophomore Macenzie Mulholland (Carlisle, Pa.) secured the victory in goal for the Lions, making three saves. Sophomore Shelby Heater (Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton Area) was tagged with the loss for Cedar Crest, collecting four saves.

Cedar Crest (3-8 overall, 0-1 United East) will round out its six-game road trip on Wednesday, October 9 at Neumann University at 7:00 p.m. Penn State Harrisburg (7-3 overall, 1-0 United East) will travel to Gwynedd Mercy University for its non-conference finale on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m.