ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – On Friday afternoon, the top-ranked Messiah University women's soccer team cruised to a 5-1 win over the Eagles of Eastern University. The Falcons got on the board first with a Hannah Adair goal from Alayna Williams in the 16th minute. The Falcons added to their lead in the 26th minute off a Brittany Laird goal from Addi Martin to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead at the half. The Falcons opened the second half strong with two quick goals from Addi Martin to push the Falcons lead to 4-0 in the 54th minute. The Eagles scored a goal in the 70th minute to reduce the Falcons lead to 4-1. The Falcons got their final tally in the 77th minute by Nikki Davis from Ella Lent-Koop to give the Falcons the 5-1 win.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Lions of Penn St. Harrisburg on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.
 
First Half
The Falcons got a pair of early opportunities with a Hannah Adair and Addi Martin shot on goal, but each shot was saved by the Eagles goalkeeper to keep the game scoreless headed into the 14th minute. The Falcons continued to put the pressure on the Eagles' defense and looked to take the lead in the 16th minute. After an Eagles clear attempt went out of bounds, Bailie Dull threw the ball back into play to Alayna Williams near the far corner. Williams dribbled the ball down towards the far post and sent a pass to the middle of the box to Hannah Adair. Adair then ripped a shot into the top-left corner to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons looked to add to their lead in the 26th minute. After pushing the ball into the attacking third, Addi Martin sent a pass to Brittany Laird on the edge of the box. Laird settled the ball and ripped a shot, over the Eagles' goalkeeper's head, and into the top-left corner to push the Falcons to two. The Falcons continued the attack with two shots on goal from Morgan Graham, and a shot on goal from Nikki Davis and Laird in the final 20 minutes of the first half, but Eagles' goalkeeper made the saves to keep the score at 2-0 headed into the break.
 
Second Half
The Falcons started the second half strong with a goal from Addi Martin in the 51st minute to push the Falcons lead to three. Martin scored the goal after beating a defender just into the Falcons attacking third, dribbling the ball all the way towards the right post, and ripping a shot into the top of the goal. The Falcons added to their lead a couple minutes later on another Martin goal off a cross from Lexi Sarago. Martin headed the ball into the Eagles' goalkeeper, but the ball just crossed the goal line to extend the Falcons lead to 4-0. The Eagles got on the scoreboard in the 70th minute with a goal to reduce the Falcons lead to 4-1. The Falcons added to their lead in the 77th minute on a Nikki Davis goal. Ella Lent-Koop sent a long pass to Davis, and she played it off the bounce perfectly past an Eastern defender. Davis then took a couple of dribbles and sent a shot into the bottom-right corner to push the Falcons lead back to four. Neither team got a shot off in the final 13 minutes and the Falcons earned the 5-1 win.
 
Stats
Addi Martin led the Falcons with two goals and an assist. Hannah Adair, Nikki Davis, and Brittany Laird each scored a goal for the Falcons. Ella Lent-Koop, Lexi Sarago, and Alayna Williams each tallied an assist. Messiah totaled 26 shots with 16 shots on goal. Eastern tallied five shots with one shot on goal. The Falcons earned eight corner kicks to the Eagles' two. Ava Wert earned the win in goal for the Falcons. Ellie Ockrin also earned time in goal.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Lions of Penn St. Harrisburg on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.