Grantham, PA – The No. 1 Messiah field hockey team got out to an early lead and rode stellar defense to a 7-1 victory over No. 16 Alvernia University to take home the MAC Commonwealth Championship on Saturday afternoon. The title is the Falcons' 10-straight conference championship and 15th in the last 16 years, as they earn a spot in their 16th-straight NCAA Tournament.

It was the exact same score as the first time these two teams squared off in a conference title game, coming in 2011. Messiah also defeated Alvernia in the championship two years ago by a 3-0 margin.
 
Messiah outshot Alvernia 27-4 (11-3 on goal) in the game and gained 11 penalty corners to four for the Crusaders.
 
Messiah had a few chances early, as they gained three penalty corners in the first seven minutes. Carissa Gehman nearly put the Falcons on the board in the 3rd minute, as she took the stick stop off the corner and ripped a shot just wide to the left of the cage.
 
In the 12th minute, Shayna Landis carried the ball up the left side over midfield and found Gehman streaking across the top of the circle. Gehman collected and got enough separation to her left for the blast across cage and in past the right post for the 1-0 lead.
 
Alvernia had a good opportunity in the 14th minute, as Alexis Krall got off two shots from the right side on consecutive penalty corners. The first was sent directly at Shelby Landes, who got her right glove up and punched it away, and the second flew just inches wide of the left post.
 
The Falcons added two more scores in the 19th and 23rd minutes, coming from Taylor Holt just inside the left post and a rip from Gehman from directly in front of the cage.
 
Messiah very nearly made it 4-0 just minutes later, as a penalty corner was sent across the top of the circle and found its way to Moriah Pfautz on the left side, who blasted a shot into the cage. However, a foul was called on the Falcons that negated the score.
 
Messiah dominated the first-half, outshooting Alvernia 14-2 (4-1 on goal). The Falcons gained eight penalty corners in the period compared to the Crusaders' two, and Alvernia keeper Rebecca Brosious and Landes each recorded one save in the half.
 
Alvernia would not go down quietly, as Andrea Wysocki connected for a goal in the 42nd minute. However, the Falcons answered right back as Kristin Donohue took the ball up the right side just 30 seconds later and sent in a centering pass that was deflected by Brosious and fell to Holt for the easy tap-in.
 
Just three minutes later, it was Holt again for the score to complete her first career hat trick and give the Messiah the 5-1 lead. She is the third Falcon to register a hat trick this season, as Gehman and Pfautz have also connected for three goals in previous contests this year.
 
Sloane Adams added her second goal of the season off an assist from Hannah Roland in the 54th minute and Logan Ryan knocked home a score in the 65th to give Messiah the 7-1 victory.
 
The Falcon offensive attack was led by Taylor Holt with five shots, four going on goal, and three finding the back of the cage. She also added a goal in the semifinal against Lebanon Valley, and earned the MAC Commonwealth Field Hockey Championship Most Valuable Player award.

It was also her 21st birthday.
 
Messiah will eagerly await their placement in the NCAA tournament, which will be revealed live online Sunday night on the NCAA website.