Grantham, PA – In a highly-anticipated match of the top two teams in the nation, No. 1 Lynchburg edged No. 2 Messiah in penalty kicks to advance to the Division III Final Four. The Hornets took the shootout by a 3-1 score after the teams tied 1-1 after 110 minutes.
 
The Hornet's berth into the season's final weekend is their first since 2009. Messiah finishes their season with a 22-0-3 record.
 
Lynchburg's Kelley Smith started the shootout with a shot off the post, but Tess Frelick saved each of the Falcons' first two offerings to help the Hornets to a 1-0 lead after two rounds. Her diving save on Holly Burgard's shot to the top-right corner was especially impressive.
 
Marisa Weaver's shot in the third round drew Messiah to 2-1, but after Samantha Bagherpour put the Hornet's up 3-1, Frelick saved Kayla Deckert's shot to the right post to seal the decision.
 
"The shootout is tough, but that's the sport and it's fair," Messiah head coach Scott Frey said. "(Frelick) made a terrific save on Holly's shot, and I think we could have done better to keep pace after that.
 
"It's a hard decision, but it was a great game."
 
The shootout ended what was a hard-fought game that had instant classic written all over it. With 47 wins and zero losses between them entering the game, the two teams delivered on the hype. For long stretches of the afternoon it was a battle of wills, as both teams worked to keep possession and play through the midfield. At the half, Lynchburg held a 2-1 advantage in shots, though the Falcons had a small edge in territory.
 
"I thought we did a great job on their wingers," Frey said, speaking to the Falcons' strategy on limiting the Hornet's nation-leading offense. "We wanted to make it hard for them to play from the wing, and we did that. In the second-half, it opened up a bit more but we were still earning the possession back."
 
To Frey's point, the Falcons and Hornets combined for 17 shots in the second-half, with Messiah also earning five corners.  In the 47th minute the Falcons struck, with Kyele Bridel sending through a short strike from inside the six-yard line. Burgard assisted the goal by way of a perfect through ball into the box, where Bridel kept her defender on her back and turned quickly to go one-on-one with Frelick. Her quick shot went into the right side of the net for the 1-0 lead.
 
"I thought we were creating great chances, and that was one where it all came together," Frey said. "It was a great play, and I thought it was even better that we did let up after that. We kept the pressure on."

The Falcons did keep the pressure on, even with midfielder Macaulay Soto leaving the game early in the second-half with an injury. Well-regarded as one of the best in the nation at her position, the loss of Soto forced Messiah to adjust. They did just that, with Hannah Weyland stepping forward and playing every single minute.

"Losing Mac was tough," Frey said. "But it mean that Hannah had to play all 110, and she was great. We didn't lose a beat."
 
Despite the effective adjustment, Messiah needed Audra Larson to make a terrific save on a header by Morgan Singer in the 50th minute. Singer's shot came off a serve from the right side, and looped towards the left post where Larson recovered to punch the ball by the post. Though it seemed to be the one great save Messiah would need, there was too much time left to be assured.
 
The Falcons came close to building their lead on a number of occasions, including in the 82nd off a corner by Mackenzie Clapper. Her serve went over Frelick and to the far post where Nikki Elsaesser's half-volley was blocked a few yards off the goal line.
 
Just minutes later, Lynchburg found the equalizer. Marina Clark set up the tally with a corner from the right side, with her serve going sharply to the far side of the six. Larson came out in an attempt to punch it out, but it went over her reach and Jenn Snyder fired through a header to tie the game.
 
Despite losing the lead, Messiah continued to apply pressure. Nevertheless, the teams entered the overtime periods knotted 1-1.
 
Messiah outshot the Hornets 6-2 in the extra sessions, and they appeared poised to grab the win in the 96th minute when Elsaesser turned on the endline and slotted to the center of the box for Erin Sollenberger. But her shot from the center of six went wide of the left post, keeping Lynchburg alive.
 
In the 102nd minute Elsaesser set up a similar play to Burgard, but her shot from 10 yards off the right post went just high of the left corner.
 
In the end, the teams went to the shootout where Lynchburg (26-0-0) escaped with the decision. They will face Illinois Wesleyan on Dec. 5 in the National Semifinal.
 
As mentioned, Messiah finishes the season with a 22-0-3 record. The seniors complete their careers with an overall mark of 89-4-6, a .929 win percentage.

"I couldn't be more proud of this team, and these seniors," Frey said. "The question this year was, 'How good are we?' and I think we showed today that we were really good. This team had great character all season long, and they showed it again today. It's a tough way to end a season, but this group was terrific."