Reading, PA – Three different Falcons scored and the defense dominated their territory to lead Messiah to a 3-0 win over Alvernia in Saturday's Commonwealth Championship. The win marked Messiah's eighth-straight conference crown and their 14th-straight qualification for the NCAA Championships Tournament.
 
Moriah Pfautz scored the game's first goal in the 17th minute of action when she redirected a cross into the box from Carissa Gehman. The tally came off a corner action for the Falcons. It was Pfautz's ninth goal of the season.
 
Just over four minutes Gehman doubled the Falcons' lead with a perfect shot from the right side of the circle. The goal was the 25th of her season.
 
The 2-0 lead came suddenly and, though early, seemed much larger considering the play of the Falcons' defense. The Crusaders did not collect their first shot until the 24th minute, and even then Carly Day made a terrific save on a shot by Margaret Wentzel.
 
The Crusaders attempted just four shots in the first-half, with Day making two saves. Sara Books also collected a huge defensive save just before the half to keep Alvernia off the board.
 
The Falcons collected just five shots of their own in the first period, but they took the 2-0 lead through the half.
 
Messiah continued to control the game's pace in the second-half, and they found a back-breaking goal in the 46th minute off the stick of Megan Prall. The action started on a corner, but play broke down as Gehman took possession on the right side. She centered the ball to Prall who was inexplicably left open in the middle for a rocket into the cage.
 
Alvernia collected just two more shots in the second-half as Messiah's defense thwarted every opportunity. In end, the Falcons proved too much for their hosts.
 
As mentioned, the Falcons earned the conference title for the eighth-straight season. This year, they did so by winning two road games: 3-0 over No. 2 Arcadia, and 3-0 over No. 1 Alvernia.

Carly Day collected the Most Oustanding Player award after making four saves and keeping the Crusaders off the scoreboard.
 
The loss dropped Alvernia 13-8 on the season and may very well have ended their 2014 campaign. Messiah moved to 14-6.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow GoMessiah.com for news on the NCAA Championships brackets that are to be released on Sunday evening.