ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. -- Lydia Lawson scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season right before halftime and Christine Fox made a career-high nine saves as Elizabethtown fell to nationally-ranked No. 4 Messiah on Wednesday evening at Ira R. Herr Field.

The Falcons displayed their potent offense early, scoring three times in the first 17:46. Missed markings would haunt the Jays as Kayla Herr's goal in the 7th minute and Sunny Gelnovatch's in the 18th both came directly off corner kicks.

Brooke Firestone also found the back of the net in the 10th minute, dribbling in from the left wing and beating E-town keeper Christine Fox with a shot off the right post.

While a few lapses put Elizabethtown (2-2-2) in a hole, their compete level did not waver.

Emily Finnessy and Janelle Barna had shots stopped by Messiah's Sarah Yunez over the first 38 minutes, but the Blue and Gray would break through in the 44th.

Kristin Wilkinson's corner was knocked down in the box, leading to a shot by Samantha Wanamaker that was blocked. The rebound came right to Lawson near the center of the six and she popped it into the open net to bring the Jays within 3-1. Wanamaker picked up an assist on the play for her first career point.

Fox was busy throughout the game as the Falcons peppered her with 24 shots, including 13 on goal. The sophomore from Phillipsburg, New Jersey turned away four shots in the first half and five in the second.

Messiah (6-1), which reached the Elite Eight last season and was national runner-up in 2016, added an insurance goal in the 82nd minute with Emily Lockwood scoring her third of the year at the left side of the six. Quick touches from Firestone and Julia Kyne set up the goal that made it 4-1.

Lawson nearly had her second of the day in the 87th minute, but a header that eluded backup keeper Lydia Ewing was negated by an offside call.

The Falcons outshot Elizabethtown 24-5 and collected eight corner kicks. Yunez had two saves in the first half before turning keeper duties over Ewing in the second.

Elizabethtown opens Landmark Conference play on Saturday when it makes the trip to Selinsgrove to face Susquehanna at 4 p.m.