Grantham, PA – No. 1 Messiah College scored four first-half goals and held No. 10 Swarthmore to just two shots en route to a 5-0 win in the NCAA Sectional Final. The win qualifies the Falcons for the NCAA Division III Final Four to be played in Kansas City in two weeks.
 
Five different players scored the five goals, including Nikki Elsaesser who tallied both a goal and an assist to set a program record with 77 points in a single season. Marisa Weaver, Holly Burgard, Lydia Eichorn, and Erin Sollenberger also tallied.
 
The loss dropped Swarthmore to 18-3-2 on the season, while Messiah moved to 22-0-2. This marks Messiah's 11th trip to the Final Four overall and their first since earning the National Championship in 2012.
 
Messiah came out with convincing and dominant play against the Garnet, gathering six shots on goal in the first nine minutes of play. Reba Magier collected saves on each of those offerings, but it wasn't long before the Falcons' relentless attack broke through. Marisa Weaver opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a brilliant left-footed strike from just inside the right corner of the 18. Her shot curled over the leap of Magier and underneath the crossbar for her 15th tally of the season.
 
Less than eight minutes later Holly Burgard made it 2-0 off a tremendous serve from Nikki Elsasseser on the right end line. Elsaesser beat her defender to get to the edge of the box, and her low serve was hit on the volley by Burgard to the far corner of the goal.
 
Just moments later, Elsaesser tallied herself on a similar play. This time it was Weaver who crossed it in from the right side, with her ball getting tipped at the six-yard line by a Garnet defender. The ball bounced of Magier and right to the foot of Elsaesser who punched it through for a 3-0 lead.
 
The goal was Elsaesser's 31st of the season and, as mentioned, gave her 77 points this season to break the single-season record of 75 points set by Amanda Naeher in 2010.
 
Before the half ended Messiah scored again off a perfectly-placed free kick by Lilly Shover and header from Lydia Eichorn. Shover's serve came from 28 yards out on the right side and Eichorn's redirection tucked the ball inside the near post.
 
At the Messiah had a 15-1 edge in shots, with Audra Larson needing to make a save in the 40th minute off a shot from Claire O'Brien.
 
Messiah's dominance of both possession and territory continued in the second-half, and they added another goal in the 65th minute. Weaver collected the assist off a pass to Erin Sollenberger. Her chip shot from eight yards out went just between the dive of Magier and the near post.
 
When it was all over Messiah had a 29-2 edge in shots and 11-0 advantage in corners. Through four games in the NCAA Tournament, Messiah has now allowed just six total shots to their opponents, and they've outscored them 17-0.
 
The Falcons will now take two weeks to prepare for the Final Four, which will be played in Kansas City, Mo. on Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5. The Falcons will match up with No. 4 Washington University (Mo.) at 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Dec. 4.
 
The other Final Four match will take place at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) between No. 9 Centre College and No. 6 Williams College.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow GoMessiah.com over the next week for a full preview of the Final Four.