GRANTHAM, Pa. - In their home opener of the 2022 season, the No. 17 Messiah women's soccer team scored two second-half goals to earn a 2-0 victory over the University of Mary Washington Eagles on Shoemaker Field. First it was Kenzie Spodnik striking in the 65th minute off a feed from Hannah Adair before Brianna Seip added an insurance tally in the 85th minute.
 
The bulk of Saturday night's game was played in the midfield with Messiah owning the majority of possession, but attempting just 10 shots. The Eagles attempted just three, putting one on frame compared to Messiah's six shots on target.
 
The Falcons improve to 2-0-0 on the young season and will host the No. 9 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays on Wednesday night in an early season battle against top-10 foes at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.
 
Scoreless Start
The Falcons and Eagles attempted a combined five shots across the first 45 minutes of play on Saturday evening. Playing in front of a solid crowd of nearly 1,000, neither the Falcons or Eagles were able to break through in the opening half.
 
Messiah put two of their three first-half shots on frame with Rachel Tirjan in the 30th minute and Hannah Adair in the 35th minute forcing saves from Mary Washington's Aly Holden.
 
Messiah's keeper, Raegan Salamone was challenged just once in the opening period, making a save in the 28th minute.
 
Falcons Get on the Board
Messiah began to force the issue a little more in the early portion of the second half. The Falcons continued to control possession and began creating more dangerous opportunities. It was in the 65th minute that the Falcons broke through. Hannah Adair carried possession down the right sideline in front of the Falcons' bench. She cut forward on the endline and send a curling cross in the middle of the box. The feed skipped past a defender and to the feet of Kenzie Spodnik. Wasting little time, Spodnik hit the bouncing ball past the diving keeper and gave Messiah a 1-0 lead with less than 30 minutes to play.
 
Over the final half hour, Messiah continued to threaten for an insurance goal. In the final six minutes of play, Brianna Seip put together a strong individual effort to add that tally. Carrying the ball down the right side of the field, Seip entered the box after beating two defenders to her right. She got the ball on her left foot and sent a shot toward goal. The Eagles' keeper was up for the challenge, sliding to the ground. However, the rebound went right to the foot of Seip on the top of the six. She deftly slotted home her second goal of the season to give Messiah a 2-0 lead late in the match.
 
Each team registered one more shot, but neither found the frame and Messiah earned the 2-0 victory to open their 2022 home slate.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action on Wednesday night when they host the No. 9 Johns Hopkins Blue Jays on Shoemaker Field at 7:00 p.m. The Falcons and Blue Jays have had quite the rivalry over the years with Messiah owning a 12-3-3 overall record against Johns Hopkins. Last season, the two sides drew a 1-1 match in Baltimore.