Frederick, MD - No. 1 Messiah College used single goals from five different players and a dominant defensive effort to shutout Hood College on Saturday, 5-0. The Falcons have now scored 30 goals in their past six games, all shutouts.
 
As the Falcons (9-0-1) have seemingly done all season, they tallied soon after the opening whistle. This time Holly Burgard started the scoring with a goal in the eighth minute. The score, a header off a cross into the box, was her first in four games, though it was her fifth of the season.
 
Less than 15 minutes later the Falcons were in the box again, and Kyele Bridel doubled the lead with a follow-up strike in front of the net. Her first shot was blocked by the Blazers' defense, but she quickly touched another offering over the goal line.
 
Messiah added to their lead later in the half, again off a header. Lilly Shover collected an assist after a perfect corner serve, and Lydia Eichorn sent it through under the crossbar for her second goal of the season.
 
The Falcons held an 11-0 advantage in shots in the first-half, and they were on their way to a 22-0 edge in the entire match. In the second-half they tallied twice more, the first of those coming off the foot of Erin Sollenberger. In the 48th minute Sollenberger, like Bridel earlier, followed up her own blocked shot with another strike that found the net.
 
Kate Shults capped the shutout in the 68th minute with her first goal of the season.
 
Audra Larson and Sara Yunez split time in the net but, as mentioned, they were untested.
 
The win pushed Messiah to 1-0 in the MAC Commonwealth, and they will try to move to 2-0 when they host Lebanon Valley College on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m.