GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Laird sisters, Kaitlyn and Brittany provided the first-half offense as No. 5 Messiah women's soccer moved into the Elite Eight with a 3-1 victory over the No. 4 Amherst Mammoths. Kristina Akselsen scored a penalty kick goal early in the second half and the Falcons defense held off heavy second-half pressure from the Mammoths to earn their 17th trip to the Elite Eight.
 
The Falcons advance to play the winner of today's other Sectional Semifinal between the No. 14 MIT Engineers and John Carroll Blue Streaks. The Elite Eight will take place on Shoemaker Field tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
 
Laird Sisters Provide the Offense
The start of Saturday's match saw the field tilted in Amherst's favor. The Mammoths attempted three shots against just one from the Falcons, but it was Amherst that was on the front foot across the opening 10 minutes of play. After that beginning stretch, play moved toward the midfield with the Falcons earning corner kicks in the 14th and 22nd minutes. The second corner was earned off a misplayed clearance by the Mammoths. Messiah took advantage of the opportunity, putting a delivery into the box. The keeper got a hand on the initial delivery, but an Amherst defender touched the ball in the direction of Kaitlyn Laird. Wasting no time, Laird hit home the first goal of the game from point-blank range for a 1-0 Messiah lead.
 
The Mammoths got the goal back just eight minutes later with a wild shot by Ella Johnson from the left side. With almost no angle, Johnson's shot went into the right-side netting to level the match at 1-1 in the 31st minute.
 
Immediately after the restart, Kaitlyn Laird ripped a low shot from distance that required a diving save from the Mammoths' keeper. Laird's shot was saved, but her sister would find a moment just seven minutes later.
 
In the 38th minute, Messiah stuck once again with Jenna Skurcenski sending a long ball forward from the midfield stripe toward a streaking Brittany Laird. With defenders on either side of her, Laird entered the top of the box and had just enough time and space to sneak a shot inside the left post. Brittany Laird's 11th goal of the season gave Messiah the lead back at 2-1.
 
Extra Insurance
Just over two minutes into the second half, Messiah would find a little extra insurance with a penalty kick goal in the 48th minute. Messiah earned a corner kick and a half volley from Brittany Laird went right into the hand of an Amherst defender. The result was a penalty kick that Kristina Akselsen deftly knocked into the back of the net for a 3-1 Falcons' lead.
 
The two-goal lead brought a renewed sense of urgency from the Mammoths. Across the second half, Amherst outshot the Falcons 9-6, putting four shots on frame against three from the Falcons. Despite the heavy pressure, Messiah held on and earned a 3-1 victory, advancing them to the Elite Eight for the 17th time in program history.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah will square off with the winner of Saturday's other Sectional Semifinal between No. 14 MIT and John Carroll. The Sectional Final will take place on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field with a spot in the Final Four on the line.