Grantham, PA – No. 2 Messiah College scored once in each half to earn a 2-0 win over Arcadia University on Homecoming Day. Nikki Elsaesser and Kyele Bridel each tallied in the victory and the Falcons relented just a single shot on goal.
 
Messiah moved to 12-0-2 with the win, including 4-0 in the MAC Commonwealth. Arcadia fell to 9-5 overall, including 3-2 in the conference.
 
The first part of the game was mostly end-to-end, and neither team was able to settle into long stretches of possession. Even still, Messiah had a handful of shots go on frame, and in the 21st minute they looked poised to score when Kyele Bridel was played over the defense. She pushed ahead over the 18 and launched a shot on keeper Evelyn Feigeles, but the attempt banged off the crossbar.
 
Even with Arcadia disrupting possession and playing mostly packed in, the Falcons continued to find chances. They finally got on the board in the 31st minute thanks to a great feed into the right side of the box. Erin Sollenberger was on the run for the first touch, but she had her legs cut out by her defender. The incidental contact was a foul nonetheless and Messiah was correctly awarded a penalty kick. A moment later Nikki Elsaesser made good on the chance and the Falcons were in front.
 
Early in the second frame the Falcons increased their lead off a great header by Bridel. The play started on the left side and moved middle to Elsaesser who played square and left to Skylar Ulry. Ulry quickly sent it right back to the far post where Bridel settled underneath for a perfect redirection past the keeper.
 
The game remained physical and contested until the final horn, even as the Falcons were on their way to a 13-7 edge in shots.
 
Audra Larson collected a single save in her seventh shutout of the season, and Messiah allowed no more than two shots on goal for the seventh-straight game.
 
The Falcons will next play on Wednesday, Oct. 21 when they travel to Widener University to take on the Pride at 7:00 p.m.