XML Box Score with Phil Naegely, GoMessiah.com reporter

Grantham, PA – Moriah Pfautz scored two first-half goals and Celina Nissley added a pair of her own after the break to lead No. 12 Messiah to a 5-1 win over No. 1 Franklin & Marshall. The loss is the first for the Diplomats (10-1) while Messiah moves to 8-2.
 
Pfautz started Messiah off the right way against the Diplomats with her seventh goal of the season in just the sixth minute of play. The Falcons' leading scorer pushed up the field on the counter attack, deked by two different defenders and launched a shot to the top shelf and past Avery Koep.
 
Off the restart, the Diplomats stormed up the field looking for the equalizer. Maria Guarisco's shot went wide, and then two minutes later forced Molly Gebrosky into a diving save. For most of the first-half, both teams battled back and forth in the midfield and looked like the 1-0 score line would stand heading into the intermission.
 
That would be far from the truth.
 
With just 51 seconds left in the first-half the Diplomats sent the ball into the circle from right side and Meghan Barlow punched through a shot near the left side of the cage to tie the game at 1-1. Undeterred, and before the crowd on both sides had a chance to settle, Messiah quickly restarted and took back the lead. Jennie Kamel sent a strong cross from the right side to the front of the cage where Pfautz stopped the ball and pushed it past Koep. The goalie tried to stop the shot but managed only to collide with Pfautz after the ball was on its way over the goal line. The goal was scored with 22 seconds left in the first-half—just 29 seconds after Barlow's equalizer.
 
In the second-half the Falcons dominated both the stats and the scoreboard. At the 43:29 mark, Celina Nissley's sixth goal on the season doubled the Falcons' lead. Her tip-in from Pfautz barely crossed the line into the cage. The assist was the first of Pfautz's career.
 
Just 1:04 later, Messiah increased their lead yet again. Becky Ely blasted shot avoided the crowd and hit the back of the cage. The goal sent Messiah's bench into jubilation, while Franklin & Marshall called timeout in an effort to slow the Falcons' momentum. Out of the timeout, they earned two corners in succession, but Messiah's circle defense prevailed and clear both chances out of danger.
 
Moments later, Messiah made good on their own corner opportunity. Nissley's pass found Rachel Cox for a shot at Koep and, after the attempt was turned away, Nissley found the rebound for her second goal of the night.
 
"We got off to a fast start and played consistent hockey for seventy minutes," said Messiah head coach Brooke Good breaking down Messiah's upset over the Diplomats. "Some key players contributed in key ways, but as a team they all played well and played to their full potential. Offensively we clicked and our circle defending prevented dangerous scoring chances form developing."
 
With the win Messiah also finished their four-game home stand with a 4-0 record, outscoring opponents 23-4, while seeing at least one player scored twice in each game. Messiah also remains undefeated (6-0) at home this season.
 
The Falcons head to Arcadia University Saturday looking to build on their recent success. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.

To see higher resolution and/or to buy prints, click on the gallery!

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video