GRANTHAM, Pa. – In another heavyweight match, the No. 1 Messiah women's soccer team was on the wrong end of a 3-1 decision against the No. 5 William Smith Herons. The Herons scored once in the middle of the first half, before beating the halftime buzzer to take a 2-0 lead into the break. After the Herons added an insurance goal, Messiah netted their tally on a Kristina Akselsen penalty kick in the 81st minute.
 
Messiah held a 13-9 advantage in shots on Saturday afternoon, putting seven shots on frame against six for the Herons.
 
With the setback, Messiah falls to 4-2-0 on the season. The Falcons will be back in action on Wednesday night when they host Penn State Berks at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.
 
Herons Score Twice
The Falcons came on the front foot in Saturday's match, with a couple of quality chances early in the match. None were better in the first 20 minutes than Bella Touzeau's volley in the 12th minute. Touzeau brought a feed down off her chest from the right side and volleyed a right-footed strike toward the goal. Her shot required a lunging save from the Herons' keeper to keep things knotted at 0-0.
 
Both teams would have looks thought the middle of the half, but it was William Smith that broke through off a free kick in the 32nd minute. After a foul near the Messiah bench on the right side, Katrine Berg sent a free kick to the back post for Majorie Plants. Her shot lofted over the keeper and into the back of the net for a 1-0 Herons lead.
 
Seconds later, Brittany Laird was in on goal, looking for the equalizer, but her shot was saved and the Herons held the 1-0 lead. Late in the half it looked as if the game would stay 1-0 heading to the break, but in the final seconds of the period William Smith would strike again. After Messiah cleared an initial throw into the box away, William Smith sent a service into the top of the box where Emma Faso knocked home the second tally of the afternoon right as the opening half came to a close.
 
Herons Add Insurance
After the half, Messiah attempted to push forward and find a tally, but they were unable to find a dangerous moment in the attacking third. In the 60th minute off a corner kick, William Smith added insurance with an own goal that bounced off of the head of a Messiah defender and into the back of the net for a 3-0 William Smith lead.
 
Across the final half hour of play, Messiah created a handful of chances with a shot from Kierstyn Fogle saved in the 78th minute. Just three minutes later, Mia Libby picked off a clearance from the Herons and carried passion into the box. Libby was taken down from behind and awarded a penalty kick. Kristina Akselsen stepped up to the spot and buried the kick, putting Messiah on the board, 3-1.
 
That was all the scoring on Saturday afternoon as the Herons earned the 3-1 victory.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action on Wednesday night when they host Penn State Berks at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.