GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Tuesday evening, the fifth-ranked Messiah University women's soccer team and the twenty-third ranked Lions of Penn St. Harrisburg tied 1-1 in the 2026 season opener. The Lions got on the board first in the 16th minute to take a 1-0 lead. The Falcons tallied three shots on goal in the first half but could not find the back of the net. The Falcons though tied the game in the 57th minute with a goal from Alayna Williams. The Falcons were able to add one more shot on goal in the final 33rd minutes but could add another goal in the second half to draw with the Lions 1-1.
Up next, the Falcons travel to Westchester County, N.Y. at SUNY Purchase on Saturday, Sept. 5 to take on the fourth-ranked Jumbos of Tufts University in a neutral site matchup at 11:00 a.m.
First Half
The Falcons looked to get on the board early with shots on goal from Hannah Lashley and Addi Martin, but each shot was saved to keep the game scoreless in the 14th minute. The Lions answered back in the 16th minute with a goal to take a 1-0 lead. The Falcons added one more shot on goal in the first half from Lashley, but the shot was saved by the Lions' goalkeeper to keep the Lions' one-goal lead at the break.
Second Half
The Falcons continued to put pressure on the Lions' defense to begin the first half. Lexi Sarago added a shot on goal in the 55th minute, but again the Lion's goalkeeper stood strong. However, the Falcons responded two minutes later with a goal from Alayna Williams to tie the game at one. The Falcons added one more shot on goal from Tessa Groff in the 61st minute, but the shot was saved and the teams battled to a 1-1 draw in the season opener.
Stats
Alayna Williams scored the goal for the Falcons. The Falcons totaled 18 shots with seven shots on goal. The Lions tallied one shot on goal. Messiah earned 10 corners to Penn St. Harrisburg's two.
Next
The Falcons travel to Westchester County, N.Y. at SUNY Purchase on Saturday, Sept. 5 to take on the fourth-ranked Jumbos of Tufts University in a neutral site matchup at 11:00 a.m.
