XML Box Score By Phil Naegely, GoMessiah.com reporter
 
Grantham, PA- Messiah College received goals from four different players and defeated Arcadia University 4-1 in the Commonwealth Championships Semifinal on Wednesday night. The win pushes Messiah to the Championship game on Saturday at Elizabethtown College.
 
From the start, Messiah's offense pushed forward and tested Arcadia's defense. Within the first 12 minutes, Messiah took five shots and earned three penalty corners, including a penalty stroke off the last corner. Brooke Sands stepped-up and guided the penalty stroke into the cage and put Messiah up 1-0 at the 11:48 mark.
 
Messiah's offensive onslaught continued as the first-half progressed. Just 5:54 after Messiah's first penalty stroke attempt, the referees awarded the Falcons another stroke. This time, Rachel Cox's lofted shot attempt went over the cage and kept the score 1-0 as the game headed into the intermission.
 
As the second-half began, Messiah's offensive chances continued. Off a penalty corner at the 38:13 mark, Emily Bower and Sands each had a shot saved before Celina Nissley gathered up the lose ball and doubled Messiah lead. Undeterred, Arcadia found their lone goal just 3:37 later off a penalty corner; Taylor Dailsera's pass to the cage was tipped in by Molly Goldstein.
 
Though the goal made the score 2-1, Messiah quickly reasserted control.
 
At the 45:57 mark, Moriah Pfautz's 21st goal of the season put Messiah up 3-1. Pfautz found the centering pass into the circle and accurately shot the ball into the cage. Becky Ely closed out the game's scoring with a penalty stroke goal in the 54th minute, sending the Falcons to the Commonwealth Championship.
 
"We connected well as a team and successfully executed our overall game plan," said coach Brooke Good, still excited from the victory. "The team played tough both physically and mentally, which is a big reason we came away with the victory."
 
With the win, Messiah advances to face Elizabethtown Saturday in the conference final. The game will be a rematch of Messiah's lone conference loss, a 3-1 decision on the Blue Jays' home field. Elizabethtown arrives into Saturday's game via 1-0 victory over Lebanon Valley College.

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