Grantham, PA – No. 1 Messiah College returned home to Shoemaker Field in loud fashion as they scored six times in a shutout of Penn State Berks.
Nikki Elsaesser and
Marisa Weaver each tallied twice to help the Falcons move to 7-0-1.
Messiah started the game quickly as they took possession and fed
Holly Burgard down the right sideline. She attacked to the end line and hit a sharp cross to the top of the six where Weaver collected the pass. She turned quickly and fired a shot off the underside of the crossbar. It was hit so hard that it bounced forward and over the goal line.
The score was a sign of things to come as the Falcons overwhelmed the Lions for much of the night. Elsaesser's first tally made it 2-0 in the 19th minute when she found space atop the 18 for a bullet into the top of the net. Less than eight minutes later Elsaesser scored again, this time after
Sarah Strachan made a great turn on the left endline to put a short cross to the front of the goal. Elsaesser beat two defenders to the ball and touched a shot through the legs of keeper Paige Elmy for a 3-0 advantage.
The 3-0 lead carried through the half, and soon after the break Weaver collected her second goal. This tally came off a long serve from
Skylar Ulry, and Weaver made a great turn to collect off the bounce in the box and strike sharply to inside the corner of the goal.
Messiah's attack after halftime was punishing; the Falcons generated nine shots and four corners before 20 minutes ran off the clock in the second-half. It all contributed to what finished as a 32-1 edge in shots.
In the 73rd minute
Ally Reinhardt made it 5-0 after
Erin Sollenberger placed a perfect ball through into the box. Reinhardt stepped over the pass and fired a shot off the hip of the closing defender. In the 84th minute
Olivia Snare completed the scoring with rocket from above the six. Snare nearly scored a moment earlier on her first attempt, but her shot hit off the crossbar before settling back at her feet for another try.
The six goals were a new season-high for the Falcons, and the 16 points tied for the most in a game this season (Virginia Wesleyan).
Messiah will next play on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Dickinson College. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.
