GRANTHAM, Pa. - The No. 5 Messiah women's soccer team earned a 3-0 shutout over the Penn State Berks Nittany Lions on Wednesday night.
Julia Martin led the way for the Falcons with a pair of tallies, netting a header off a corner in the 13th minute and adding an impressive right-footed strike in the 46th minute for some insurance.
Tahlia Lloyd also found the back of the net, giving Messiah a 2-0 lead in the 16th minute as the Falcons improved to 5-2-0 on the season.
The Falcons were on the front foot all night long, outshooting the Nittany Lions 30-5 in the match and putting a dozen attempts on frame.
Messiah will be back in action on Saturday night when they host the No. 15 Misericordia Cougars on Shoemaker Field at 7:30 p.m.
Two Quick Tallies
The Flacons got on the board with two fast scores in the first 20 minutes of Wednesday night's match. In the 13th minute, the Falcons earned a corner kick on the right side of the field.
Kristina Akselsen trotted over the to corner to deliver the entry pass. Akselsen sent an in-swinging feed to the penalty spot where
Julia Martin waited for a header into the back of the net. Martin's tally was her second of the season and gave Messiah an early 1-0 lead.
The lead remained at 1-0 for just three minutes as
Tahlia Lloyd found the back of the net off a feed from
Lydia Ring in the 16th minute. The Falcons built up play with
Hannah Adair carrying possession into the box on the right side and slipping a pass to Ring in the middle of the box. Ring took a touch to the right, but turned and found an unmarked Lloyd at the top of the box. Lloyd one-timed the feed with her left foot, placing her shot just inside the left post for a 2-0 Messiah lead.
In the 17th minute, Messiah looked to have taken a 3-0 lead when the Falcons earned a penalty kick. After the initial attempt was saved,
Kristina Akselsen hammered home the rebound and a goal was awarded. However, the goalie was ruled to have left her line early and Messiah was forced to take the penalty kick again. The second attempt was saved and Messiah had to settle for a 2-0 lead.
Fast Out of the Half
Messiah would carry their 2-0 lead into the half, but just seconds into the second half, the Falcons would add some insurance.
Julia Martin found her second goal of the match in the 46th minute with a firmly hit shot from the middle of the box to the right post. It was Martin's second career multi-goal game for the Falcons and her first since last Oct. 26 against Lebanon Valley.
Messiah would create plenty of chances over the final 44 minutes of play, nearly adding to their lead on multiple occasions, but five saves from the Nittany Lions kept the Falcons margin of victory to three.
What's Up Next
With the victory, Messiah improves to 5-2-0 on the season and will face another tough test when the No. 15 Misericordia Cougars come to town on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
