Grantham, PA – It wasn't pretty, but in the end it was enough.
No. 2 Messiah College played through some general sloppiness and rode 27 shots and a dominant defensive performance to win 3-0 over No. 25 Dickinson College.
Nikki Elsaesser scored twice and assisted on a goal by
Holly Burgard to highlight the offense.
The Falcons controlled possession and tempo for all but a few moments of the game, but they were unable to find the net early on. Elsaesser had chances in the 17th and 23rd minutes, respectively, but both shots went just over the crossbar.
As the game wore on the Falcons never seemed out of control, but they started to give the ball away too quickly. Finally, in the 32nd minute Burgard broke through for her first goal the season to give Messiah the lead.
The play was started by a long throw-in by
Kayla Deckert on the right side to Elsaesser in the box. Nikki went to the end line before cutting back middle and slotting to Burgard at the top of the box for the booming shot into the right side of the goal.
Though now in front, Messiah continued to fight inconsistent play. In the second-half, however, their combinations were much more efficient, and in the 48th minute Elsaesser came inches from doubling the lead with a shot that ricocheted off both posts before getting cleared away by the Red Devils' defense.
Still, the opportunity would be a sign of things to come as they generated 18 of their 27 shots after the break.
In the 64th minute Elsaesser finally got one through. Deckert chipped the ball off the back line to the midfield line where Elsaesser waited, stayed on-sides, and escaped her defender to carry possession all the way into the box. After a final cut to the right she put the ball on the ground past keeper Charlotte Armour for the score.
Fifteen minutes later the Falcons scored again, and again it was off the foot of Elsaesser. This time the Falcons played off a corner kick, with the serve carrying over the crowded goal box and to the Burgard on the left side. Her shot went back to the far post where Elsaesser redirected it into the net.
Elsaesser's pair of tallies gave her nine goals on the season as Messiah's win moved them 19-0 all-time against Dickinson, who lost for the first time this season (7-1).
Despite the periodic sluggishness, the Falcons' defense was once again impressive. They allowed just two shots, with just a single attempt going on frame.
Messiah (8-0) will next play on Saturday, Sept. 27 when they host Grove City at 7:00 p.m.
