Grantham, PA – No. 3 Messiah College scored five unanswered goals to overcome an early 1-0 deficit in a 5-1 season-opening win over Virginia Wesleyan. Holly Burgard tallied twice and Nikki Elsaesser collected both an assist and a goal to lead the Falcons.
 
Messiah controlled both tempo and possession for nearly the entire game, and they nearly scored shortly after the opening whistle. Both Skylar Ulry and Missy Biener hit the crossbar in the opening 10 minutes, and the Falcons collected the game's first four shots.
 
Keeper Alexis Wheeler and the visiting Marlins managed to survive the opening barrage, and their offense made good with a sudden score in the 19th minute. The Marlins stole possession in the midfield and put together a quick counter, with Brittany Wentzel getting into the box on the left side. Her short volley across the box went to Julia Downing on the six, and her redirect knuckled inside the near post as Messiah keeper Audra Larson was unable to react in time.
 
Despite the first tally going to the visitors, Messiah continued to hold much of the territory. In the 30th minute they found the equalizer, and this time it was a trio of Falcons putting together a quick opportunity. Kayla Deckert started the play by passing back from 25 yards out to Jessica Kenny and, as the Marlins defense was pushing out of the box, Kenny chipped a pass to a streaking Burgard. The senior took the ball quickly to her feet and fired past Wheeler before the defense could recover.
 
Less than nine minutes later the Falcons went ahead off a corner kick feed from Lilly Shover. Her serve went near post and off the head of Ally Reinhardt, and the Falcons were in front 2-1.
 
At the start of the second-half the Falcons wasted no time in pulling ahead. Elsaesser and Burgard each scored in the opening six minutes, with both goals coming off quick thru balls from the midfield.
 
Kyele Bridel capped the scoring with a hard strike in the 58th minute, with Ulry collecting the assist by way of a great cross from the right side.
 
In total the Falcons outshot the Marlins 22-2, and they collected nine corners to the Marlins' two.
 
The win also pushed Messiah to a record of 16-0-0 in season-openers under head coach Scott Frey. They hold a 72-4 goal differential in those contests, and tonight's goal was their first allowed in a season-opener since 2008.
 
The Falcons will next play on Saturday when they host Stevens Institute at 7:00 p.m.