DALLAS, Pa. – On Friday evening, the Messiah University women's soccer team used two goals from Brittany Laird to defeat the third-ranked Cougars of Misericordia University, 2-0. The Falcons offense started the game strong and in the 13th minute, Brittany Laird found the back of the goal with an assist from Bella Touzeau to give the Falcons an early 1-0 lead. The Falcons continued the attack, but in the 59th minute Brittany Laird scored her second goal of the game to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead. The Falcons only allowed one shot on goal the rest of the way and defeated the Cougars, giving them their first loss of the season.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Glenside, Pa. to take on the Knights of Arcadia University on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 12:00 p.m.
 
First Half
After some back-and forth-play to begin the game, the Falcons looked to break the scoreless tie in the 14th minute. Addi Martin passed the ball over to Bella Touzeau just past the midfield line. Touzeau dribbled the ball towards the right-side of the box and sent a pass to the left side of the box. Brittany Laird received the pass and made a move that made the Cougars goalkeeper fall, and Laird shot the ball into the back of the goal to give the Falcons an early 1-0 lead. The Falcons looked to extend their lead just a few minutes, later, but a Bella Touzeau shot towards the lower-right part of the goal was saved by the Cougars goalkeeper. The Cougars looked to go on the attack in the 23rd minute. A Cougar midfielder ripped a sharp angle shot from the far left, but good positioning from Ava Wert in goal allowed her to make the save and keep the Falcons 1-0 lead. The Falcons offense kept the attack going for the rest of the half with five more shots, but the best opportunity came from Kierstyn Fogle, but her shot was saved by the Cougars goalkeeper to keep the Cougars deficit to one at the half.
 
Second Half
The Cougars looked to tie the game in the first couple minutes of the second half. A Cougar forward looked to have an open look at the goal, but Ava Wert came sliding out of goal to make an impressive save to keep the Falcons 1-0 lead. After the early save from Wert, the Falcons started to control the pace of play. After a save on a Mia Libby shot, Brittany Laird got possession of the ball and sent the ball into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead in the 59th minute.  The Falcons defense shut down the Cougar attack for most of the game, but the Cougars got a chance to comeback in the 77th minute. The Cougars sent a shot towards the top-left of the goal, but Ava Wert made the save and kept the score at 2-0, where it would remain the rest of the game.
 
Stats
Brittany Laird led the Falcons with two goals. Bella Touzeau tallied an assist. The Falcons tallied 12 shots with five shots on goal. The Cougars totaled six shots with three shots on goal. The Falcons took seven corner kicks and did not allow a single corner to the Cougars. Ava Wert earned the win in goal for the Falcons and tallied three saves.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to Glenside, Pa. to take on the Knights of Arcadia University on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 12:00 p.m.