BALTIMORE, Md. - Last season, the Messiah women's soccer team saw their 2022 campaign come to a close against the eventual National Champion Johns Hopkins Blue Jays in the National Semifinal. On a hot Baltimore Wednesday night, the No. 3 Falcons avenged that loss by handing the No. 1 Blue Jays their first loss since the 2021 NCAA Tournament by a 1-0 final score. Messiah first year Brittany Laird scored the lone goal of the match with an impressive left-footed strike from the left side that tucked in the upper 90 in the 27th minute. The loss was the first setback in the regular season for Johns Hopkins since Oct. 30, 2019. It also marked Messiah's first victory over the Blue Jays since the 2019 season. The two sides had tied both the 2021 and 2022 regular season meetings.
 
With the victory, Messiah improves to 3-0-0 on the young season and will be back in action on Saturday night when they travel to Ursinus at 5:00 p.m.
 
Lone Tally
Much of the first half hour of play was contested in the midfield with two national heavyweights waging battle between the boxes. The Blue Jays registered the first shot of the game in the ninth minute, but it did not scare the goal. In the 27th minute, Messiah had the first real chance of the match. The Falcons took possession in the midfield and quickly pushed the ball forward with Hannah Adair sending a long ball down the left side for Brittany Laird. With a defender on her back, Laird took possession just inside the box on the left side and wasted no time ripping a left-footed shot over the top of the Johns Hopkins keeper. The attempted nestled into the side netting, just inside the right post and under the crossbar for a 1-0 Messiah lead.
 
The tally was the first of the career for Laird and proved to be a big one for the Falcons as that was all the offense Messiah would need to earn the 1-0 victory over the top-ranked team in the country.
 
Holding the Lead
Just five minutes later the Blue Jays had an excellent chance to level the score, putting a pair of shots on frame in a dangerous sequence. Both attempts were saved by Raegan Salamone, two of her five saves in the match.
 
Salamone was tested twice in the second half, but picked up saves in the 72nd and 77th minutes to keep Messiah out in front.
 
Overall, the Blue Jays outshot the Falcons 10-8 in a closely contested match. Johns Hopkins put five shots on goal against three for Messiah, but the Falcons were able to find the back of the net in the 1-0 victory.
 
What's Up Next
With the victory, Messiah improves to 3-0-0 on the season, their best start since the 2019 National Championship season. The Falcons will put that perfect record on the table this Saturday when they travel to Ursinus College to take on the Bears at 5:00 p.m. in a non-conference match.