GRANTHAM, Pa. - Kristina Akselsen netted the game winner in the 82nd minute on Homecoming as the No. 14 Messiah women's soccer team took down the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen 1-0 on Shoemaker Field on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons were in attack mode for the entirety of the contest, but the Dutchmen defense held them off the board for the vast majority of the contest, outshooting Lebanon Valley 20-5 in the match.
 
The victory, moves the Falcons to 8-2-1 overall on the season and 3-0-0 in the MAC Commonwealth. Messiah will be back in action when they host the Alvernia Golden Wolves at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.
 
Early Attack
Messiah held an 8-3 advantage in shots in the opening half, starting on the front foot with three shots in the first 12 minutes of play. Rachael Tirjan took all three shots, putting attempts on frame in the 11th and 12th minutes. Both were turned away by Jocelyn Umana, Lebanon Valley's keeper.
 
Tirjan took an attempt for distance in the 32nd minute and looked like she had put the Falcons on the board, but her attempted squarely hit the crossbar and the Dutchmen cleared the rebound away. Messiah's only other shot on goal in the first half came in the 44th minute by Michael Elliot.
 
The Dutchmen tested Lydia Watkins with just one shot on frame in the half, forcing the Falcons' keeper to make a save in the 34th minute.
 
Continued Pressure
After the break, Messiah continued to win the possession battle and challenge the Dutchmen defense. The Falcons took eight shots in the first 30 minutes of the second half, but none of those attempts were able to find the back of the net. Messiah had near misses that skimmed just outside of the frame, but struggled to put attempts on frame.
 
Finding the Winner
With under 10 minutes remaining in regulation, Messiah finally cracked the board. After winning possession in the midfield, the Falcons pushed forward down the left-side of the field. On a bit of a breakaway, Messiah attempted to send a ball forward, the Dutchmen got a foot on the feed and it redirected toward the end line. Thea Neimond hustled onto the loose ball, saving it just before it trickled out of balance. A quick centering cross found the foot of Kristina Akselsen on the right side of the box. With defenders crashing toward the goal mouth, Akselsen calmly connected for her second career goal.
 
The tally was all Messiah would need, though Jessie Fisher missed just wide two minutes later and Michaela Elliot had an attempt turned away in the 88th minute, as the Falcons earned the 1-0 victory.
 
What's Up Next
With the victory, Messiah improves to 8-2-1 on the season and 3-0-0 in the conference. The 1-0 shutout also extends the Falcons' shutout streak to four games. Messiah will look to extend that streak when they host the Alvernia Golden Wolves on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.