Baltimore, MD – No. 3 Messiah College scored two goals in the second-half to overcome an early 1-0 deficit and win at Johns Hopkins University, 2-1. Marisa Weaver tallied both goals for the Falcons to lead them to the decision.
 
Weaver's first goal came in the 68th minute when Kate Shults played a perfect ball from the midfield and behind the Blue Jays' defense. Weaver ran onto the pass in full stride and went one-one-one with keeper Clara Aranguren. Weaver's quick touch set up a shot from just inside the 18-yard line that went across the ground and into the net.
 
The goal tied the game at 1-1, and it wasn't until the 86th minute that the Falcons took the lead. Weaver scored this time after collecting a flick from Brooke Firestrone and going right to the net for a sudden score. The game-winner secured a thrilling win for Messiah after they allowed a goal in consecutive games for the first time since September of 2013.
 
Even as Weaver's goals will get the attention, Messiah nearly scored a few minutes earlier after Aranguren's attempted clearance from the box hit Erin Sollenberger in the back and bounded toward the goal. It was only the heavy spin that kept the ball from trickling over the goal line, and Hopkins avoided a disastrous blunder.
 
Nevertheless, Weaver's play moments later gave the Falcons the lead, and a last-second corner by the Blue Jays was caught by goalie Sara Yunez to seal the win.
 
"We were really pressed early on, but I think we did a good job to settle the game down," head coach Scott Frey said. "We tried to get fresh legs out there as often as a we could, and it was great to see (Marisa) get some energy at the right time.
 
"When we scored the second goal, it was great to see there was just four minutes on the clock."
 
The rival teams combined for just 13 shots in the game, with Messiah leading in shots on goal, 3-2. Five of the Blue Jays' seven total shots came in the first-half, with Meg Van de loo connecting for the game's first goal in the 34th minute. She centered her possession into the box from the right side, and her left-footed strike tucked just inside the right post to allude Yunez's dive.
 
The goal marked the first time in three years that Messiah gave up goals in back-to-back games and, like Saturday at Stevens, they were in an early hole. But the midfield and defense responded to hold the Blue Jays to just two more shots the rest of the way.
 
"Last year we trailed for about twenty minutes the whole season," Frey said, commenting on the Falcons' early-season deficits. "This year, we've already trailed for about ninety minutes in our first three games. But this is what are team needs right now, and we're responding to the challenge."
 
The challenges will not stop for the Falcons as they will next play on Saturday against rival No. 4 William Smith. The game will be the Messiah's home opener and will start at 12:00 noon.