XML Box Score Hoboken, NJ - No. 9 Messiah College scored a pair of goals in each the first and second halves on Friday to win 4-0 over Stevens Tech in the 2014 season-opener.
Macaulay Soto tallied first for the Falcons with each
Erin Sollenberger,
Nikki Elsaesser, and
Natalie Hoober scoring once. Messiah has now won 17-straight season-openers.
The Falcons controlled possession early but managed just five shots in the first 30 minutes, with just one of those offerings going on net. Their pressure finally broke through in the 34th minute off, however, with a set play on the left side setting up a goal by Soto. Stevens' keeper Evelyn Ting actually managed to get her hands on the ball as it came into the box, but lost control as Soto put a quick strike into the net to give the visitor an early lead.
The score broke the early tension in the game and was quickly followed by another goal.
Erin Sollenberger scored this one for the Falcons as she took possession over the midfield line and pushed past her defender to go all way into the box before hitting a perfect shot past Ting.
Sollenberger's score came less than 20 seconds after Soto's goal.
Not long into the second half Messiah added a third goal off the foot of
Nikki Elsaesser as she dribbled past her mark and fired a shot under Ting's dive. The Falcons' fourth goal came in the 79th minute by way of a penalty kick by Hoober.
Altogether the Falcons outshot the Ducks 17-11, with eight of their shots going on frame. Ting made four saves while
Audra Larson saved three shots for Messiah. As usual, Messiah also demonstrated the strength of their bench as 21 total Falcons appeared in the game.
The Falcons will be off until next week when they travel to No. 6 Johns Hopkins University for a 7:00 game.
