CARLISLE, Pa. - The No. 19 Dickinson women's soccer team dropped their first contest of the 2021 campaign on Wednesday night as they fell 3-0 to No. 15 Messiah University in a non-conference fixture at Dickinson Park.

Dickinson got the first chance of the match in the seventh minute when Sophia Elguera was denied by Lydia Watkins. Messiah struck first nine minutes later when Shelby Burger forced a diving save out of Sophia Kavulich. Unfortunately for DC the ensuing rebound came right out to Brianna Seip who found Rachael Tirjan for a 1-0 lead. The Falcons added three more shots, before finally making it 2-0 in the 35th-minute as Emma Herrmann converted a penalty kick after Sarah Cudmore was called for a push at the edge of the box. 

The Red Devils came out firing from all angles to start the second half with Meg Tate being stopped by Watkins just over a minute in. Then, Caleigh Fletcher pinged the crossbar from about 14-yards out and Tate sent the rebound high over the net. Messiah responded with four straight shots causing three saves out of Kavulich. The Falcons made it 3-0 in the 79th as Seip settled a bouncing ball and finished. DC added two more shots the rest of the way as they tried to break the clean sheet, but Emma Cooney and Tate were unable to convert.

Next on the Pitch

Dickinson will return to Centennial Conference play on Saturday when they host rival Franklin & Marshall College at 2:30 p.m. at Dickinson Park.