GRANTHAM, Pa. – No. 11 Messiah women's soccer scored six goals in the first period and Megan Mansfield tallied a hat trick in a 7-0 win over Alvernia on Saturday evening on Shoemaker Field. The Falcons outshot Alvernia 35-2 in the match.
 
The win pushed Messiah to 7-1-2 and the Golden Wolves fell to 3-6-1.
 
Big Start
Messiah's six first-half goals came from five different players, and it all started with a tally in the fourth minute from Sarah Strachan. Her goal near the right post was set up by Barb Foster, with Strachan led into the box for a quick cut middle and shot.
 
Just over 10 minutes later Strachan paid it forward with a corner serve to Abby Monko for a header through from the six-yard line. Just 11 seconds later Julia Kyne put one through thanks to a takeaway from the Golden Wolves' midfield. Kynes shot from the right side of the box went through the legs of keeper Jess Plunkett.
 
Messiah scored three more times after that, once off the foot of Emily D'Amico and twice from Megan Mansfield. Natalie Hoober collected the assist on Mansfield second goal with a pass behind the Alvernia defense that Mansfield ran onto for 40 yards before putting it past Plunkett.
 
When the halftime horn sounded Messiah also held a 20-1 edge in shots.
 
Sweet 17
As mentioned, Messiah's goals from Monko and Kyne were tallied just 17 seconds apart from each other, making it the third-fastest pair of goals scored in program history. The fastest combination was done in 11 seconds, done both in 2010 (Alicia Frey and Ali Rogers against Eastern) and last season (Hannah Levesque and Ellie Lengacher against Dickinson).
 
Trickster
The Falcons took 15 more shots in the second-half, but they collected just one goal. That tally came in the 75' when Mansfield knocked through a left-sided serve from Emily Lockwood.
 
Mansfield's three goals gave her four on the season, and this marked the first multi-goal came of her career.
 
Up Next
Messiah hits the road next week when they travel to Albright to take on the Lions on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. Albright is 5-4 overall entering a match with Stevenson this evening.