GRANTHAM, Pa. –
Taylor Holt scored twice and the Messiah defense held Alvernia University without a shot on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Golden Wolves 5-0. As temperatures hovered around 90 degrees on an uncharacteristically warm late September day, the top-ranked Falcons could not be cooled on the field as they won their seventh-straight game to open the season.
Falcons Come Out Firing
Messiah kept possession on Alvernia's defensive end for most of the game, and it started early as the Falcons rattled off five shots in the first ten minutes and 17 shots in the first half. It was not until the sixth attempt, though, that
Kristin Donohue was able to split the defense and get to the top of the circle for a shot that found its way past the Alvernia goalie for the game's opening goal. The score gave Donohue her 50th career point.
The Falcons would score again just before halftime, as
Taylor Holt knocked through her first score of the day to put Messiah up 2-0. Messiah earned a pair of penalty corners in the final minutes of the half as well, but were unable to find the cage before the break.
Messiah Keeps Pressure On
Ten minutes into the second period,
Shayna Landis received the ball near midfield and dribbled forward towards the top of the circle. She sent in a beautiful pass to
Taylor Holt in front of the cage, who quickly turned and beat the Alvernia goalie to the right post for her second score of the game and fifth tally of the season.
Carissa Gehman added her team-leading eighth goal of the year in the 58th minute, as she picked up a loose ball and turned to her left for a beautiful Argentinian backhand that thudded into the back of the cage. The lead would become 5-0 just three minutes later, as Messiah scored off a corner that was sent in by
Taylor Wiederrecht. She fed the ball in to
Kristen Musser, who dished it to
Hannah Palm on her left for a shot just inside the right post. It was the freshman's first goal of her career, earning congratulations from her teammates all the way back to midfield.
Alvernia's Defense Hangs Tough
Despite allowing 27 shots, 20 of which were on goal, the Golden Wolves displayed a great defensive effort, holding Messiah to just the five goals. Goalie Emma Beamesderfer notched an impressive 12 saves, while the team also recorded three defensive saves.
Next Up
Messiah will enjoy another game on Anderson Field next Wednesday, Sept. 27 as they host No. 13 Franklin & Marshall College at 7:00 p.m.
