GRANTHAM, Pa. – The No. 5 Messiah women's soccer team claimed a 5-1 victory over the Westfield State Owls on Saturday afternoon in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Falcons outshot the Owls 25-4 in the match with Brittany Laird leading the offense with a pair of tallies. Julia Martin, Ella Arace, and Lydia Ring all found the back of the net as well, as Messiah moves into the Second Round of the Tournament for the 23rd-straight season.
Messiah improves to 18-2 on the season.
The Falcons will take on the winner of Williams and Endicott on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.
Westfield wraps up its season at 13-7-1 after winning the MASCAC tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year and 10th time overall.
The Falcons were first on the board, scoring in the 17th minute off a corner kick. Julia Martin headed home a corner kick from Kristina Akselsen to give Messiah a 1-0 lead. The Falcons had pressured throughout the start of the match, attempting five shots in the first 16 minutes of play.
Despite heavy Messiah pressure, the lead remained 1-0 for nearly 30 minutes. The Falcons released some pressure with a goal from Ella Arace in the 44th minute. After a pass down the left side from Molly Adams found Kierstyn Fogle, a slipped pass into the box broke Ella Arace in on goal. Arace deftly slotted a shot past the keeper, doubling the Messiah lead to 2-0 just before the half.
Messiah wasted little time finding the back of the net in the second half. Off the opening touch, Messiah quickly pushed forward with Kaitlyn Laird touching a pass to Hannah Adair outside the box. A perfectly weighted through ball found Brittany Laird just before the oncoming keeper could get to it. Brittany Laird's one-touch shot found the back of the net for a 3-0 lead.
Brittany Laird would add her second goal in the 62nd minute off a corner kick. A delivery to the near post from Olivia Shuck was volleyed by Laird past the keeper for a 4-0 advantage. Lydia Ring cleaned up a failed clearance from the Owls in the 68th minute for the final Messiah goal on the afternoon. Ring picked up possession at the top of the box and after a touch, ripped a shot that found the twine for a 5-0 lead.
The Owls fought off a shutout with a goal in the 84th minute off the foot of Delaney Parker. A long though ball from Kiana Maratsuka got to Parker down the left side. Parker ran past the Falcons defense and slotted a shot into the right-side of the goal mouth for an Owls' goal.
Julia Robak finished with four saves in goal for the Owls.
Messiah held a 7-0 advantage in corner kicks.
The Owls were playing at Messiah in the first round of the NCAA tournament for the second time. The two teams met in the 2017 Tournament.