GRANTHAM, Pa. – Ally Reinhardt's goal in the 71' was the difference for No. 2 Messiah women's soccer in a 1-0 win over Pacific Lutheran on Saturday night. The goal helped the Falcons (1-0-1) to their first win in 2017 while the Lutes fell to 1-1-0.
 
Just Need One
One day after finishing with a season-opening draw for the first time in program history, the Falcons came mighty close to another overtime match. Messiah was, like Friday night, holding long stretches of territory, but it wasn't until the second period that they were consistently playing in their attacking third. With the shot totals rising, the Falcons finally caught a break in the 71' when the Lutes failed to clear a ball from their back row. Possession came lose inside the right side of the box, and Ally Reinhardt was there for a quick strike off the bounce that went over the reach of keeper Natalie Robinson.
 
The goal was Reinhardt's first since Oct. 31, 2015 since she missed all of last season with an injury.
 
Keep it Safe
The Falcons' win was certainly protected in the final 20 minutes, but it was a full-game effort to keep the Lutes from getting on the board. The slick and rainy conditions only made it more challenging as balls played directly into the box and around the goal took slick bounces. Sara Yunez was forced to make just one save, but she was kept alert from start to finish.
 
The Lutes' best shot of the night came in the 78' when Kaylie Rozell got into the box for a shot toward the left post. Yunez dove in an attempt to push it out, but it went just beyond her reach and, thankfully, just outside the post.
 
Up Next
The Falcons will host a third-straight home game next Wednesday when No. 13 Johns Hopkins visits Shoemaker Field. The Blue Jays won their season-opener today against Wisconsin-Stout, 2-0, and they play against Rowan tomorrow afternoon.