Messiah University

Grantham, PA – Messiah College scored seven goals over a span of just 12:35 in the first-half en route to a dominating 8-0 win over Hood College. Marisa Weaver tallied a hat trick for the Falcons, her second in the past five games.
 
Messiah immediately owned territory as the game began, and took five shots before Weaver put them on the board in the ninth minute. The goal came off a through ball by Marisa DeMonte that led Weaver into the box for a one-on-one shot by keeper Lead Norris.
 
Less than four minutes later Holly Burgard ripped a shot from 25 yards out in the midfield over the leap of Norris and under the crossbar. It was her four goal of the season.
 
From there, the goals kept coming. Weaver scored the next two, with the 3-0 lead coming on a strike that rivaled that of Burgard. Ashley Locke collected the assist on that score, with Weaver taking the feed near the right corner of the 18, spinning middle, and firing a left-footed shot into the left upper 90.
 
Moments later, Weaver's third goal put the Falcons up 4-0 at just the 15:28 mark. It was the fastest hat trick to start a game by a Falcon this season, edging Nikki Elsaesser's performance from their win over Lycoming earlier this month (16:46).*
 
Now leading 4-0, the Falcons added another three tallies before the 22nd minute was complete. Kyele Bridel put the Falcons up 5-0 off an assist from Mackenzie Clapper, and then Clapper scored two consecutive times herself. Both of Clapper's goals came from the left wing: the first a right-footed blast from the corner of the 18 into the far side of the goal; the second a left-footed, high-arcing serve from outside the edge of box that crossed the goal line.
 
Kayla Deckert completed the scoring in the 44th minute with a sudden and strong shot from 25 yards out in the midfield. The offensive outburst marked the first time the Falcons scored eight goals in a half since a 10-0 win over Alvernia on Oct. 22, 2011.
 
Messiah collected 21 shots in their dominating first-half, and they added six more in a scoreless final frame. The Falcons did not allow a shot for the second-straight game and fourth time this season.
 
Hood dropped to 4-10-3 overall, and 0-4-1 in the Commonwealth. No. 1 Messiah improved to 15-0-1, including 5-0-1 in the conference.
 
The Falcons next play on Saturday, Oct. 25 when they travel to Farmingdale State for a 1:00 game time.

*Elsaesser's hat trick against Lycoming still came in a shorter period of time; the time from Elsaesser's first goal to third goal was 6:43; the time from Weaver's first goal against Hood to her third goal was 6:51.