FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - The No. 1 Messiah women's soccer team earned a 1-0 victory against the University of Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon. Emma Herrmann scored her first career goal in the 62nd minute with a left-footed strike from the top of the box.
 
Mary Washington kept the majority of play in the midfield during the first half. Messiah held a a slim 5-3 advantage in shots after 45 minutes, but the Falcons asserted themselves after the break with 11 attempts against just one from the Eagles. Messiah outshot Mary Washington 16-4 in the match.
 
With the win, the Falcons move to 2-0-1 on the season and will be back in action on Wednesday when they travel to McDaniel when they take on the Green Terror at 4:00 p.m.
 
Scoreless Start
Quality chances were hard to come by for either side in the opening half. The Eagles had the first true opportunity with a corner kick in just the third minute, but were unable to attempt a chance off the corner.
 
Messiah had a few looks early with shots by Kristina Akselsen and Emma Herrmann in the ninth and 12th minutes, respectively, saved by the Mary Washington keeper, Allison Nork. Rachael Tirjan put a header on frame in the 20th minute, but her attempt was saved as well.
 
Messiah's final shot on frame in the opening half came in the 39th minute, when Lindsay Haseltine had her look turned aside by Nork.
 
The Falcons' Lydia Watkins was tested twice in the half, making saves in the 25th and 30th minutes to keep a clean sheet into the half.
 
Herrmann's Tally
After an opening half played primarily in the midfield, Messiah took control in the second half. Back-to-back Messiah corner kicks in the 46th minute were a sign of things to come for the Falcons. Brianna Seip put shots on frame in the 49th and 51st minute, but both were turned aside, but the pressure was mounting.
 
After a header by Kayla Herr went high in the 58th minute, Emma Herrmann found her moment with a run from the midfield. Off of a give and go, Herrmann was one-on-one with the keeper just a step inside the top of the box. Herrmann put the ball on her left foot and deftly put the strike in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Falcons took 11 shots in the second-half, with plenty of chances to earn some insurance later in the period, but that goal was all the Falcons would need as Messiah earned the 1-0 victory.
 
What's Up Next
With the victory, Messiah moves to 3-0-1 on the young season. The Falcons will be back in action at McDaniel on Wednesday when they take on the Green Terror at 4:00 p.m. on the road. The Falcons are 12-0-0 against McDaniel all-time with their last meeting ending in a 1-0 Messiah victory on Oct. 8, 2016.