Box Score
Grantham, PA – An early score, a tight game at the half, and five exciting goals in the final 43 minutes—just what the fans were looking for on Homecoming Day.
Messiah College entertained the Falcons' fans in all varieties on Saturday, defeating Widener University 6-0 to move to 7-0 in the Commonwealth Conference. The win also moved the Falcons, ranked No. 2 in the most recent NSCAA Top 25 Poll, to 14-1-1 overall this season.
Saturday's match-up was ominous for the Pride; though they entered the game with two conference wins, both were against the two remaining winless teams (Lycoming and Hood). Meanwhile, the Falcons were a perfect 6-0 in the conference while outscoring their Commonwealth opponents 37-2.
And, as the story line would suggest, the managed to tally early. Senior
Tannia Nieto did the honors by way of a header off a corner kick from classmate
Rachel Scheibeler. The shot by Nieto—taken 15 yards out from the right, near post—was deflected off a Widener defender's leg and into the net. The goal was Nieto's second of the season.
As exciting as the goal was, it would not be followed by any other scores in the first half. Messiah did outshoot the Pride 12-2 in the frame, with Widener unable to mount any formidable opportunities in their attack. Still, the game felt close as the two teams were separated by just one score.
In the 59th minute, that feeling changed.
Playing off a free kick from the left side, senior
Elizabeth Phillips sent a low cross into the box and in front of the Widener goal. The ball rolled through two defenders and a pair of Falcons before being struck by the left foot of senior
Anne Trapp. Her shot went on the ground and into the left side of the goal.
Now up 2-0, freshman
Nikki Elsaesser put Messiah up 3-0 just 40 seconds later. Her shot was drilled from the left side after a slot from Scheibeler—her ninth goal of the season. Scheibeler's assist was her fifth on the season, and second in the game.
The quick barrage by Messiah drew a rousing cheer from the Homecoming crowd, as they sensed a convincing grab of momentum.
Messiah's second half surge would be the product of 19 shots, with three more goals still to be scored after their commanding lead was established.
Freshman
Kate Shults put Messiah up 4-0 in the game's 76th minute—her first goal of the season—by way of a header off a free kick from sophomore
Regina Stump. Stump's ball was played from 30 yards out on the right side of the field, near the sideline. Her strike went to the middle of the box, six yards out from the goal line where Shults put the redirect into the net.
Sophomore
Mackenzie Clapper scored twice in the final seven minutes to complete the scoring and send Messiah to the 6-0 win. Her second goal was especially impressive, as she one-touched a cross off the right post before beating the Widener goalie to the carom for the score.
In total, Messiah took 31 shots against just two for the Pride. The Falcons also attempted 13 corner kicks to Widener's zero.
The win was the Falcons' 83rd consecutive regular-season victory in the Commonwealth, a streak that dates back to 2001. Messiah moves to 14-1-1 overall in 2012, with Widener falling to 5-9-1.
The Falcons will next play when they travel to Arcadia University on Wednesday, Oct. 24 for a 7:00 p.m. game.
