Grantham, PA – Messiah College imposed their will on a scrappy Capital team as they took a 5-1 win and advanced through the NCAA Second Round. Holly Burgard and Nikki Elsaesser each tallied twice for the Falcons in the win.
 
Capital entered the match by way of a shootout decision over Gettysburg from the day before; Messiah also won yesterday, 5-0 over Brooklyn.
 
On Sunday night, Messiah settled the ball early and created five shots within the first six minutes. The Falcons finally got on the board 20th minute off the foot of Holly Burgard. Kayla Deckert sent a cross from the right corner of the 18 to the far endline for Burgard, who took the ball to her feet, touched once to the middle, and chipped a shot over keeper Kim Leitch and inside the far post.
 
The goal further established the Falcons' attack, and they tallied again less than two minutes later. Burgard picked up the assist on the tally, as her cross from the left side was sent in sharply from the six by a sliding Marisa Weaver.
 
Altogether the Falcons collected a 13-1 advantage in shots in the first-half, with keeper Audra Larson untested.
 
At the start of the second-half Messiah went firmly in front 3-0. Nikki Elsaesser sent through a header for the goal, with Mackenzie Clapper collecting the assist after a perfect serve from the left side of the box.
 
But the lead was short-lived, as Chloe Brown made it 3-1 less than 90 seconds later. Her shot from 25 yards out initally looked to be headed safely into Larson's hands, but defender Kayla Decker deflected the ball on the six-yard line and Larson was unable to change her feet in time to collect the ricochet.
 
The Crusaders' tally sparked life back into their team, and the next 15 minutes of action was mostly end-to-end and sporadic. The Falcons finally managed to settle down play, however, as Macaulay Soto, Kyele Bridel, and others were exceptional at earning back territory for the hosts. Burgard then found her second tally of the night in the 65th minute to put Messiah up 4-1. Her goal was the result of a takeaway from the back line of the Crusaders, with her one-on-one chip over Leitch going into the back of the net.
 
In the 73rd minute Elsaesser put the game away with a penalty kick score after she was taken down on her attack into the right side of the box; the sideline official waved her flag for the foul on Elsaesser, with the call setting up the forward's 23rd goal of season.
 
Messiah finished with a 19-3 advantage in shots and a 6-0 edge in corners. The loss dropped Capital to 16-5-2 and eliminated them from the postseason. Messiah remained unbeaten at 20-0-1.
 
The No. 2-ranked Falcons will move to face Nazareth College, who moved past Amherst College 2-2 (4-3 PK) on Sunday afternoon. Time and location for the game is yet to be determined.