GRANTHAM, Pa. -- The Covenant women's soccer team opened the 2018 season with a 4-0 loss at No. 5-ranked Messiah on Friday evening in Grantham.

It was the second all-time meeting between the programs, both taking place in Grantham, and Messiah has won both.

Rachel Lemay made a career-high 20 saves at the net for Covenant (0-1), but the Lady Scots could not hold off the host Falcons. Messiah (1-0) scored three second-half goals to pull away for the victory.

Brooke Firestone scored the first and last goals for the Falcons to lead the way. Firestone scored in the 17th minute, after she cleaned up a deflected ball from short range. She then had the final tally as her score in the 69th minute made it 4-0.

Maddie Kohl and Sunny Gelnovatch scored second half goals for Messiah as the Falcons added to their one-goal halftime lead. Kohl scored in the 53rd minute and Gelnovatch scored hers in the 61st minute.

Covenant's Addy Cronan and Megan Rasku had attempts. Cronan put her shot on goal in the second half, but Messiah keeper Lydia Ewing made the save.

Ewing and Sarah Yunez combined for the shutout for Messiah.

UP NEXT

Covenant will finish its trip to Pennsylvania on Saturday when it takes on Franklin & Marshall. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

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