READING, Pa. - The No. 1 Messiah women's soccer team moved to 15-1-1 on the season with a 2-1 victory over the Albright Lions on Saturday night. The Falcons netted a pair of first-half goals to take a 2-0 lead at the half. Albright netted their tally early in the second half, but Messiah held on for the one-goal victory.

Shelby Burger tallied in the 29th minute to get the Falcons on the board and Claire Brier converted a penalty kick attempt in the 42nd minute.

Messiah holds a 6-0-1 record in the conference and has the inside track to the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. The Falcons can lock up that top-seed with a win or a draw against Stevenson in their regular season finale on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.

First Half Scores
In the 29th minute, Messiah built out of the back with Abby Monko carrying the ball up the right side toward the midfield stripe. Monko found a cutting Maddie Kohl in the midfield and Kohl ran with a defender on her back for about 30 yards, holding possession for the Falcons toward the top of the box. As she reached the box, Kohl drew another defender creating an opening for Shelby Burger to slide into.

Kohl found Burger on the left-side of the box setting up a one-on-one situation with Olivia Donkus, the Lions' keeper. Donkus came off her line and Burger found some space over her right shoulder for the 1-0 lead.

Messiah had a handful of chances in the next 10 minutes, but their next dangerous look came in the 42nd minute at the top of the box when Brianna Seip collected a feed from the left side. Seip went to move the ball to her right foot by spinning around, but was taken down in the process. The foul in the box earned the Falcons a penalty kick, that Claire Brier hammered past a diving Donkus between the pipes. With the penalty kick, Messiah took a 2-0 lead into the half.

Albright Scores Early in the Second
Just minutes into the second half, Albright struck off a free kick in the 49th minute. From about 40 yards out, Alright swung a free kick into the box where the Lions connected on a double header, cutting the Messiah lead down to 2-1. Jillian Lapidus hit home the header for the Lions from just outside the six.

Messiah Looks to Respond
In the 55th minute, it looked as if the Falcons had gotten that goal back when Brooke Firestone found the back of the net on a rebound, but the goal was called off the board for offsides. From the middle of the box, Ellie Lengacher took a shot that was turned away. The rebound went right to a crashing Firestone on the right-side of the goal. Firestone tapped in the rebound, but it was rued that she was just barely offsides and the goal was taken off the board.

Messiah continued to pressure throughout the remainder of the game, but could not find an insurance goal. In the second half, Messiah held an 8-4 advantage in shots, but it was the Lions with the only goal of the second period.

The Falcons held on for the 2-1 victory, improving to 15-1-1 on the season and 6-0-1 in the MAC Commonwealth.

What's Up Next
The Falcons will wrap up the 2019 regular season on Tuesday night when they host the Stevenson Mustangs at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field. A win or a draw against the Mustangs will lock the Falcons into the top seed in the upcoming MAC Commonwealth Tournament. The Falcons are 8-0-2 against the Mustangs all-time.