XML Box Score Grantham, PA – Messiah College head coach
Scott Frey reached the 300-win plateau on Wednesday night as the Falcons scored five times in a shutout over Mary Washington.
Nikki Elsaesser scored twice for the No. 3 Falcons while
Mackenzie Clapper,
Kyele Bridel, and
Kate Shults also tallied.
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Messiah took much of the first-half to settle into form, though they still outshot the Eagles 12-2 before the intermission.
Mackenzie Clapper's first goal of the game gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute, and it came in exciting fashion. Working out of a five-man set above the penalty box, Clapper drilled a shot into the left side of the goal for the score.
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The 1-0 lead held until the start of the second-half when Elsaesser carried possession to the endline and found Bridel in front of the goal for a quick one-touch goal. Twenty minutes later Elsaesser scored the first of her two goals on an open field, one-on-one chance against keeper Charlotte Owens.
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Elaesser's second score came in the 75th minute and, like her first, it was set up by
Erin Sollenberger. This time she was found on a run across the top of the box and sent a quick strike on the ground past Owens and into the left side of the goal. For Elsaesser, it was her third goal of the season.
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Messiah's final goal came in the 81st minute when
Kate Shults placed a perfect shot from the top of the box over the head of Owens and into the top of the net.
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The five goals for the Falcons were a season-high, but the main story was Frey's 300th career win.
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Now in his 15th season, Frey's record stands at 300-17-14—a .927 win percentage that is the best-ever among all NCAA Division I, II, or III men's or women's soccer coaches with at least 10 years of coaching.
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Frey's 300 wins with the Falcons include five NCAA Division III National Championships and 13 conference championships. His teams at Messiah have won at least 20 games 10 times, including seven-straight seasons entering 2014. From 2004-2012 the Falcons also qualified for nine-straight Final Fours.
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Now 4-0 this season, the Falcons will next play on Saturday, Sept. 13 when they travel to Salisbury University for a 1:00 p.m. game.