WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The No. 1 Messiah women's soccer team shook off an early goal from the Wilkes Colonels en route to a 4-1 victory on Saturday evening. The Colonels took a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute, but the Falcons found the equalizer from Kenzie Spodnik just before the half and then netted three goals after the break to get back in the win column.
 
Esther Seeland scored her first career goal off a header in the 48th minute and Rachael Tirjan connected on a pair of goals in the 66th and 70th minutes to put the game out of reach.
 
The Falcons controlled possession throughout the contest, outshooting the Colonels 19-6 in the match.
 
The Falcons move to 3-1-1 on the season and will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Rutgers-Camden in a non-conference tilt at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.
 
Colonels Take the Lead
It was a slow start to the contest, with each team taking only one off-target shot a piece in the first 20 minutes. The Falcons had the first on-target attempt in the 23rd minute when a Kenzie Spodnik shot was saved.
 
Just a minute later, Wilkes had their best chance of the game. The Colonels' Emily Bidelspach took control in the midfield and carried possession all into Messiah's end. With three Messiah defenders in the area and no teammates to pass to, Bidelspach lofted a high-arching shot toward goal. The attempt floated just under the cross bar and nestled into the back of the net for a 1-0 Wilkes lead in the 24th minute.
 
Finding the Equalizer
Messiah allowed just one more shot from the Colonels for the remainder of the half, attempting five more of their own. The Falcons sent shots toward goal in the 27th, 36th, and 38th minutes, but missed the frame with all three.
 
In the 42nd minute, Shelby Burger carried possession down the left side and turned the corner onto the end line. Her low cross went right across the goalmouth and found the foot of Kenzie Spodnik, who tapped it in for the Messiah equalizer.
 
The game stood level at 1-1 heading into the half, with Messiah holding a 7-3 advantage in shots.
 
Falcons Take Over
After the half, Messiah wasted little time taking the lead. In the 48th minute, the Falcons earned a corner kick and Rachael Tirjan sent the corner into a crowded box. Esther Seeland rose and connected on the header, finding the back of the net in the top left corner. The tally gave Messiah a 2-1 lead and was the first-career goal for Seeland.
 
That 2-1 lead stood for nearly 20 minutes until Tirjan scored the first of her two goals in the game. In the 66th minute, Tirjan had the ball at the top of the box on the right side. Her initial attempt toward goal was blocked, but she quickly regained possession and lofted a left-footed strike into the upper 90 for an insurance goal for the Falcons.
 
Four minutes later, Tirjan was at it again. After Messiah earned a free kick close to the right sideline, Jenna Skurcenski put a ball into the box for Tirjan. Her header found the back of the net for her second goal of the game and team-leading fifth of the season.
 
Wilkes took all three of their second-half shots in the final 20 minutes, but were unable to cut into the 4-1 Messiah lead and the Falcons earned the victory
 
What's Up Next
With the win, Messiah moves to 3-1-1 on the season and will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Rutgers-Camden on Shoemaker Field at 7:00 p.m.