Women's Soccer Plays Tough in 1-0 Loss to No. 9 Messiah

(box score)

Widener knew it would be in a battle with ninth-ranked Messiah and gave its best, only giving up an early goal in a tough 1-0 Commonwealth Conference loss at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.

Entering the contest fifth in the Mid-Atlantic Region according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Poll and receiving votes in the D3Soccer.com Top 25 Poll, the Pride (13-2-3, 3-2-2 CC) knew they could stay in the game and did.

Senior Valarie Perretti (Clayton, NJ) made 12 saves and helped lead a solid defense which this season has totaled 11 shutouts and only three times in 18 matches has permitted more than one goal.

The Falcons (14-2-1, 7-0) tallied the lone marker in the 16th minute. Nikki Elsaesser beat her defender on the right side and served a pass in the middle to Emily Schneider, who got a boot on it and scored for her fifth goal of the season.

Widener saw its four-game unbeaten streak end after earlier this season breaking the school records with an 11-game winning streak and a 12-game unbeaten run.

Elsaesser closed with six shots for Messiah.

Widener sits in fifth place in the league and the top five teams compete in the conference tournament.

Widener faces a huge test next Tuesday when it hosts Lebanon Valley, starting at 4:00 pm.

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