Box Score
Glenside, PA – The Falcons headed to Arcadia University for a double-overtime thriller that ended with a goal off of the foot of Senior
Alex Brandt. The win marks the 15th of the season, and eighth in the conference. Shot totals went in favor of the Falcons, 17-5.
The game started off in a dead heat with both teams matching each other shot-for-shot. The game continued this way until about the 25th minute, at which point the Falcons then started to put pressure on the Knights; in the next five minutes, Arcadia keeper Veronica Willig was forced to make three saves.
Willig made one more save before the game's halftime, while Messiah keeper
Audra Larson collected a save off of one shot-on-goal by sophomore Nina Barbieri.
The teams walked off the field at the 45-minute mark with a slight advantage going to the Falcons, as Messiah controlled the majority of the game's possession. The Knights also managed just two shots to the Falcons' seven.
The second half started very similar to the first, with the two teams battling early for possession. The Falcons got their best chance to break the 0-0 tie in regulation in the 71st minute when freshman
Holly Burgard took a shot that rang off of the post. From that point forward, the shots kept coming for the Falcons through the rest of the second half (seven total) but none found the back of the net.
The two teams headed into overtime with the game still scoreless.
The overall theme of the game continued into the first overtime period. Messiah was able to get shots on goal, but Willig proved to be on her game and able to keep her team on the field. She saved all 10 shots that came on frame through the first 100 minutes.
The second overtime was once again very competitive, until it was ended in the 106th minute. With time running out before a tie resulted,
Alex Brandt found the ball at her feet from junior
Alicia Frey on a run into the box. After taking a few dribbles to elude the Knights' defenders, she found herself one-on-one with Willig before firing a shot around the keeper and into the net.
The game winner brought Brandt's total for the season to four, with 12 goals overall. Total shots on goal for the Falcons came to 11, while the Knights had four.
As mentioned, the win moves the Falcons-- ranked No. 1 In the most recent NSCAA Top 25 Poll-- to 8-0 in the Commonwealth.
The Falcons' next and last game of the regular season will be held this Saturday. The match is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field against Albright College.
