FREDERICK, Md. – On Tuesday evening the No. 6 Messiah women's soccer team earned their 12th victory of the year with a 2-0 win over the Hood Blazers. Messiah netted one goal in each half as Rachael Tirjan connected in the 11th minute and Brianna Seip scored in the 62nd minute as the Falcons improved to 12-1-2 on the season.
 
Messiah out shot the Blazers 9-2 with five attempts on frame. The Falcons earned seven corner kicks on the evening while holding Hood to just two.
 
With the victory, Messiah improves to 4-1-0 in the MAC Commonwealth and will be back in action on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when they host the Albright Lions on Shoemaker Field.
 
Tirjan Gets Messiah on the Board
The Falcons had the first opportunity of the match in the eighth minute when Kayla Herr sent a shot high. Just three minutes later, Herr assisted on the Falcons' first goal of the evening on a give and go with Rachael Tirjan. The Falcons found Tirjan from the right side with a centering feed toward the left side of the box. Tirjan slipped a pass to Herr in the middle of the box and her quick feed went right back to a cutting Tirjan on the left side of the box. A wide open Tirjan was one on one with the keeper and ripped a shot into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.
 
The Falcons attempted just one more attempt for the remaining 34 minutes of the half. In the 18th minute, Kylie Firestone had a shot that was saved as the Falcons held a 1-0 lead at the half.
 
Messiah held the Blazers without a shot in the first half.
 
Second-Half Insurance
Messiah once again had early chances to begin the second half with shots from Kristina Akselsen missing high and Brianna Seip having an attempt saved in the first 10 minutes of the half.
 
In a one-minute span in the 58th and 59th minutes, Hood earned a pair of corner kicks and had a shot blocked after the first corner.
 
Just three minutes later, the Falcons found their insurance goal off the foot of Brianna Seip. Rachael Tirjan carried possession down the right side and sent a pass into the box to Seip. A touch to the endline by Seip pulled the keeper off her line. Seip guided a shot past the oncoming keeper and across the goal line for a 2-0 lead.
 
Hood attempted one more shot in the final 29 minutes while the Falcons ripped three shots. Kristina Akselsen put the last shot on frame of the match with her attempt in the 69th minute that was saved.
 
What's Up Next
With the victory, Messiah improves to 12-1-2 overall and 4-1-0 in the conference. The Falcons will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Albright Lions on Shoemaker Field at 7:30 p.m. for their final regular season home match of the season.