GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Wednesday evening, the fifth-ranked Messiah University women's soccer team used a four-goal performance from Brittany Laird to defeat the Mustangs of Stevenson University, 9-0. The Falcons started their strong offensive showing with three straight goals from Brittany Laird to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead in the 25th minute. Kierstyn Fogle added another right before the half to give the Falcons a commanding 4-0 lead headed into the break. Addi Martin, Brittany Laird, Hannah Adair, Ella Lent-Koop, and Kaitlyn Laird each added a goal in the second half to give the Falcons the 9-0 win.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the second-seeded Spartans of York College for the MAC Commonwealth Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 12:00 p.m.
  
First Half
The Falcons opened the first 10 minutes controlling the pace of play but could not get a shot into the back of the goal. The Falcons looked to break the scoreless tie in the 12th minute after earning a free kick. The Falcons played the free kick short, but with some quick passing, Addi Martin received the ball just outside of the box. Martin then sent a short ball to Brittany Laird and she drilled a shot into the top-right corner to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons continued the attack in the 20th minute. After the Falcons earned a throw in, Bella Touzeau threw the ball into the right side of the box to Addi Martin. Martin controlled the ball and sent a pass outside of the box to Brittany Laird. Laird then made a move past a defender and sent a shot into the bottom-left corner to push the Falcons lead to two. The Falcons offense still looked to add another goal in the 25th minute. After another throw in, this time on the left side of the field, Addi Martin sent a cross into the box. After deflecting off a Stevenson defender, Brittany Laird volleyed the shot into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead. The Falcons added another goal after Kaitlyn Laird sent a free kick that the Stevenson goalkeeper made a save, but after the ball bounced off the crossbar on the save, Kierstyn Fogle tapped the ball into the goal to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead at the half.
 
Second Half
The Falcons continued the attack into the second half. Thea Neimond got the ball in the top-left corner of the box and after her shot attempt was blocked, she sent a pass to Addi Martin. Martin dribbled towards the baseline and sent a sharp angle shot towards the goal. The ball squeaked through the Stevenson goalkeeper's hands and went into the goal to give the Falcons a 5-0 lead in the 56th minute. The Falcons added another just three minutes later with Brittany Laird scoring her fourth goal of the game this time from Bella Touzeau to push the Falcons lead to six. The Falcons added their seventh goal in the 66th minute after a misplay by the Stevenson goalkeeper, Hannah Adair poked the ball into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 7-0 lead. Ella Lent-Koop and Kaitlyn Laird each added goals in the final 15 minutes to give the Falcons a dominate 9-0 win.
 
Stats
Brittany Laird led the Falcons with four goals. Addi Martin also totaled a goal and two assists. Hannah Adair added a goal and an assist. Kierstyn Fogle, Ella Lent-Koop, and Kaitlyn Laird each also scored a goal. Thea Neimond, Bella Touzeau, and Ella Arace each tallied an assist. The Falcons totaled 43 shots with 22 shots on goal. Stevenson tallied one shot on goal. The Falcons earned all nine corner kicks in the game. Ava Wert earned the win in goal for the Falcons. Ellie Ockrin also earned time in goal for the Falcons and made one save.
 
Next
The Falcons host the second-seeded Spartans of York College for the MAC Commonwealth Championship game on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 12:00 p.m.