Grantham, PA - The Montclair State women's soccer season saw it 2015 season come to an end on Sunday as the Red Hawks fell to top-ranked Messiah College, 3-0 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Shoemaker Field.

MSU ends its season at 15-4-2. The Red Hawks were making their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance advancing to the second round each of the last four years.

Nikki Elsaesser tallied twice and Holly Burgard put through an impressive free kick  to push Messiah to 20-0-2 overall, and also into the Sectional Semifinal where they will play the another NJAC opponent in Rowan. The Profs ousted defending national champion Lynchburg College 1-0 on a goal in the final 90 seconds of the contest.
 
Elsaesser put the Falcons up in the 23rd minute off a quick combination give-and-go with Kyele Bridel. The pass from Bridel led Nikki into the box where she just beat keeper ERINNE FINLAYSON to the first touch. Finlayson managed to get a deflection on the chip, but the ball had too much steam and trickled into the net for a 1-0 Messiah lead.
 
Less than eight minutes later Messiah doubled that lead off the foot of Burgard. Elsaesser's turn in the midfield led to a foul by the Red Hawks, and Messiah's set play was arranged 26 yards out. Burgard's ensuing strike dipped under the crossbar and just beyond the leap of Finlayson for her 10th goal of the season and second in as many games.
 
The 2-0 lead was especially significant considering the Red Hawks played some dangerous balls into the Falcons' box early on. They even seemed poised to answer Elsaesser's first goal when TYLER MADISON played a ball square across Messiah's six-yard line to the back post. The entire weak side was open for a second, but Marisa Weaver made a great recovery to clear the ball away before a shot could be taken.
 
Less than six minutes into the second-half Messiah got a back-breaking goal from Elsaesser to make it 3-0. Bridel got the helper again, this time with a long pass down the right sideline that led to Elsaesser's approach into the box. With a defender riding her hip Elsaesser put a perfect shot across the goal and inside the far post for her second goal of the game. The tally was also her fourth in two games this weekend.
 
Finlayson finished with three saves for the Red Hawks.