St. Davids, PA – No. 1 Messiah College scored four second-half goals and goalkeeper
Audra Larson set a new NCAA shutout record in the Falcons' road win over Eastern University on Tuesday afternoon. The shutout for Larson was the 60th of her career, a new mark for NCAA Division I, II, and III men's and women's soccer.
Marisa Weaver broke the scoreless tie with two goals in a seven-minute stretch early in the second-half. Her first goal came from just off center of the 18, with her right-footed strike curling inside the far left post. In the 58th minute she struck again, this time with a brilliant shot off a corner from the right side. Her in-swinger traveled all the way to the far post and tucked in the top corner.
The Falcons' tallied again just four minutes later off the foot of
Kyele Bridel when her shot from outside the 18 beat keeper Leah Lozzi to her left.
Nikki Elsaesser collected the assist on the score.
Erin Sollenberger made it 4-0 when she tallied in the 75th minute. She took a feed from
Holly Burgard in the box and made a great turn to get to the left side of the net before slotting a shot inside the far post.
Larson made three saves in the shutout win, and she now has four shutouts this season. She was previously tied for the NCAA record with Chelsea Parise of Division II Grand State Valley. Parise graduated in 2013 and collected her 59 shutouts in 101 career games; Larson now has 60 shutouts in 82 career games.
The Falcons, who took over the nation's No. 1 ranking today, outshot Eastern 30-5, with 22 of their shots going on frame. They also earned eight corners to the Eagles' one.
Today's win marked the final game of a four-game road trip, and they will next play at home on Shoemaker Field on Friday evening at 7:00 againt PSU-Berks.
| A Look at each Division's Shutout Leader (ordered by shutout total) |
| Name (School) | NCAA Division | Grad Year | Shutouts | Career Games |
| Audra Larson (Messiah) | III - Women | 2016 | 60 | 82 |
| Chelseas Parise (Grand St. Valley) | II - Women | 2013 | 59 | 101 |
| Katelyn Rowland (UCLA) | I - Women | 2015 | 55 | 90 |
| David Meves (Akron) | I - Men | 2013 | 54 | 94 |
| Bo Ohoniyi (Southern Conn. St.) | II - Men | 1994 | 50 | unknown |
| Mac Church (Ohio Northern) | III - Men | 2013 | 47 | 98 |
