by GoMessiah.com reporter Joe Saufley

CARLISLE, Pa - No. 11 Messiah woman's soccer downed Dickinson 2-0 to secure its fifth-straight win on Wednesday evening. Sunny Gelnovatch notched her first goal of the year in the 15' of play and struck again at the 56' mark, with Brooke Firestone assisting on the second tally. Gelnovatch's goals bumped Messiah, which moved up one spot to No. 11 this morning, to 6-1-2 on this season. 

Dickinson dropped to 7-2-1 with the loss.
 
Mostly Sunny...
Gelnovatch, who banked eight goals last season, came into the afternoon with no tallies to her name in 2017. She quickly changed that fact, turning a 15' scramble in the box into a 1-0 Falcons' lead. The score held firm until Gelnovatch raced near post to head home Firestone's short cross and put Messiah up 2-0 early in the second half.
 
Messiah's scores came on two of its best looks, as Dickinson's defense and goalie Mary Kate Brosnan (five saves) kept the Falcons at bay for most of the contest.
 
…With a High in the 80s
An unusually high game-time temperature of 86 degrees may have been to blame for the game's lackluster tempo and limited scoring chances. Messiah banked just four shots in the first half, putting three on frame. Two belonged to Emily Lockwood, whose 30-yard belt at the 36' mark went straight to Brosnan's hands. Maddie Kohl's cross in the 43' also fell to Lockwood, who put the one-time attempt over the frame.
 
The Falcons turned up the heat in the second half, and their crisp play led to eight more shots and dominant possession. Even before setting up Gelnovatch, Firestone had a chance to head in a corner at the 46' mark; Lilly Shover and Abby Monko also followed Gelnovatch with shots in the 64' and 68' respectively, but the long attempts were taken care of by Brosnan.
 
Dominant Defense
The Falcons' defense, a unit that has conceded two goals all season, stayed true to its stingy nature.
 
Dickinson came into the game looking to avenge last year's 9-0 loss to the Falcons, but a Messiah back line anchored by Lydia Eichorn, Skylar Ulry, and DJ Cole kept the Red Devils from recording a shot. Dickinson's best chance came on a botched pass to Messiah goalie Lydia Ewing in the 38', but Ewing's quickness off the line thwarted a potentially game-changing look for the home side.
 
Conference Play Awaits
The road win wraps up Messiah's non-conference slate, with the Falcons set to begin MAC Commonwealth play at home this Saturday against Alvernia. The Golden Wolves travel to Shoemaker Field with a 3-5-1 record.