ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- For the first 50 minutes, things were going just as planned. Eastern University Women's Soccer scored a 21st minute goal to grab a lead against No. 1 Messiah, but the visiting Falcons were able to find two second half goals to remain unbeaten.

The Eagles became just the second team to score on the Falcons, and the first to hold a lead when Kelsey Doutrich curled a 20 yard shot into the lower left corner of the goal. Charlotte Laurie set up the goal as she pushed the ball away from a Messiah defender and on to Doutrich's feet.

The games between the two squads at Olson Field have always been close, but the Eagles had never been able to grab the lead. In 2007, Messiah earned a 1-0 overtime win, and in 2009, the Falcons won 1-0 as well. 

Up a goal, the Eagles (5-4-2) had to absorb an enormous amount of pressure from the 2010 National Runners Up. 

The Falcons had a great chance to equalize in the 27th minute when Corrinne Wulf found herself in space and hit a sharp shot from 15 yards out that Alysia Goodman was able to block but not hold. Wulf gathered the rebound and fired a shot destined for the top part of the net, but Katie Ruth came to her team's aid to head the shot of the goal line. 

Goodman made another great save on a low shot from in tight in the 43rd moment. Messiah held a 7-2 edge in shots through 45 minutes.

Eastern Head Coach Dan Mouw was pleased with his team's work rate.

"We were a little short-handed today, "he said, "which is not where you want to be against a team with the quality that Messiah brings, but we battled the whole way. Our goal was to come out and play against them, but as the half progressed, we had to drop back in and defend. I was very proud of the way our players competed."

The Eagles pushed the ball deep into Messiah's end to start the second half, but the Falcons were able to gather more of the ball and equalize on a short shot from Wulf after a nifty bit of problem solving by Alex Brandt on the wing. The Falcons used their depth to their advantage and continued to put the Eagles under pressure.

Alicia Frey connected on the game-winner in the 71st minute on another assist from Brandt.

Even without the majority of the ball, the Eagles were able to create a few chances against the run of play, but the Messiah defense was up to the task to secure the win.

"I think we learned a lot about ourselves today, " Mouw continued, "we have work to do, but I also think that we can gain some confidence from seeing what we can do against a top-level opponent. Now we need to get healthy and focus on Freedom Conference games."

Eastern hosts DeSales University at noon on Saturday.