GRANTHAM, Pa. – No. 12 Messiah women's soccer scored four times in the final period and finished with a 4-0 shutout over visiting Elizabethtown on Wednesday night. Four different Falcons tallied in the win as they moved to 4-1-2 on the season.
 
Elizabethtown fell to 3-2-1.
 
Fast Forward
Messiah outshot the Blue Jays 8-1 in the first-half, keeper Hailey Parks made six saves, and it was 0-0 entering the second period. However, it didn't stay that way for long thanks to a forceful follow-up by Julia Kyne in the 50' of play. Abby Monko created the opportunity with a high serve from the left side, and the ball was knocked around twice before Kyne touched it toward the right post and fired it across the frame for a 1-0 lead.
 
Just four minutes later the Falcons doubled their lead thanks to both a brilliant helper from Sunny Gelnovatch and a beautiful finish from Brooke Firestone. Gelnovatch stripped the Blue Jays of possession in the midfield and pressed forward into space, and she slotted Firestone into the left side of the box. Firestone ran on for a quick left-footed strike underneath the dive of Parks.
 
Pull Away Late
In the 73' Megan Mansfield replicated Gelnovatch's turn of possession, and she cut left before splitting two defenders to go right at Parks for the score. That 3-0 lead was increased to 4-0 just 10 minutes later off the foot of Sarah Strachan. Emily Lockwood started the action with a long play into Firestone on the left side of the box, and she quickly turned toward the post for a low serve to Strachan's run. A one-timer went past Parks before she could react, and it gave the Falcons a season-high scoring output.
 
In the Box
Messiah put a season-high 14 shots on goal, a total that also eclipsed their last three games' sum. The Falcons' defense also kept their opponent from registering a shot on goal for the first time this season.
 
Up Next
Messiah next plays this Saturday at No. 23 Misericordia. The Cougars are 5-1-2 and are coming off a 3-1 loss at William Smith from earlier this week.