ANNVILLE, Pa. – Lebanon Valley took the #2 team in the nation to the limit at Herbert Field on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 11.  Unfortunately, Messiah was able to overcome a strong Flying Dutchmen defensive effort late in the second half and escape with hard-fought 1-0 victory.

After being frustrated and stymied by Lebanon Valley's tenacious defense well into the second half, the Falcons' Kyele Bridel netted the game's lone score off a corner kick by Marisa Weaver.  Freshman Meghan Ross had an opportunity to give the Dutchmen the lead in the 58th minute but Messiah goalkeeper Audra Larson made the second of her two saves on the day on the play.

LVC was strong out of the gate, controlling the ball on Messiah's half of the field multiple times in the game's first 20 minutes.  The Dutchmen earned a corner kick in the eighth minute and Ross headed an attempt in front of the Falcon net in the 18th.  Despite the opportunities, neither chance was converted.

Lebanon Valley kept the nation's second-ranked squad from getting a shot off until the tenth minute and kept the Falcons from attempting a corner kick until the 25th. 

Early in the second half, sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Reinhold turned away two Messiah looks in a seven minute span.  She made seven clutch saves on the afternoon, keeping her squad in the game until the final second ticked away. 

She got help from the talented Dutchmen back line consisting of sophomore Kristin Robeson, freshman Emmie Santoleri, junior Alexa Muffly, freshman Taylor Kleeschulte, and sophomore Sam Wright.  The front line got into the act as well as sophomores Sammy Bost, Laura Zimmermann, and Johnna Garbrick, as well as freshmen Teanna Shutt fell back and helped slow down a Falcon offense that had scored 48 goals entering the day.

The hard-fought defeat that saw the Dutchmen's starting 11 play the entire 90 minutes dropped LVC to 9-2-1 on the year and ended the team's recent five-game win streak.  Lebanon Valley now sits at 1-1 in Commonwealth Conference play and will look to build on their outstanding effort when they travel to Lycoming for another league matchup on Wednesday evening, Oct. 15.  Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.