GRANTHAM, Pa. – Messiah women's soccer begins the 2017 MAC Commonwealth Tournament this Thursday when they play host to Lebanon Valley on Shoemaker Field at 7:00 p.m. The Falcons are 13-1-3 overall and ranked No. 7 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, and they'll host the No. 5-seeded Dutchmen in the conference semifinal.
Winners from Thursday's games will play in the conference championship on Saturday.
See below for a snapshot preview of the conference tournament.
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| Scouting the Falcons |
| No. 1 Messiah Falcons - 13-1-3 Overall, 7-0-1 MAC Commonwealth |
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The Falcons enter the postseason winners of six-straight games, and they're unbeaten in their past 13 matches (12-0-1). The Falcons have also collected 15 shutouts thus far, and they've also allowed just two goals, marking the third time in program history they've completed the regular-season with no more than two goals allowed (2010, 2011). Their defensive efforts have them No. 1 in the nation with a 0.113 goals against average, and they're also No. 1 with a 0.933 save percentage. DJ Cole directs the imposing back row, and keeper Lydia Ewing is No. 1 in the nation in individual GAA (0.140) and No. 19 with a 0.889 save percentage. On the other side Messiah started slow but has come into their own as the season has progressed. Of their 47 goals scored, 33 have come in the second half of the season (eight games), which is more than their final eight regular-season games last season (28) when they scored 78 total goals. All that to say, Messiah can score, further evidenced by four double-digit scorers led by Brooke Firestone (6g, 10a) and Megan Mansfield (8g, 5a). Impressively, 10 different Falcons have collected a game-winner, with Firestone, Sunny Gelnovatch (5g, 4a), and Abby Monko (4g, 3a) each with two apiece.
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| Scouting the Field |
| No. 2 Arcadia Knights - 13-5 Overall, 7-1 MAC Commonwealth |
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The Knights have won eight of nine games, with their lone loss in that stretch coming to Messiah (3-0). Across those eight wins Arcadia has outscored opponents 25-9, and they lead the conference overall with 50 goals scored. Jess Kelly leads the team—and the conference—in goals (17) and points (38), and she also has six game-winners. She has scored six goals in her past six games. Veronica Garcia (6a, 1a) and Amanda McHugh (5g, 1a) are also in double-digit points. The Knights have given up 18 goals this season, and they're allowing more than 10 shots per game. Keeper Brianna Williams holds a 1.02 goals against average with a 0.816 save percentage, and she's allowed just a single goal in the past four games (2662:04 minutes).
When They Met: The Falcons scored three-second half goals en route to a shutout of the Knights on Shoemaker Field. Messiah held territory for most of the first-half, and they took six shots, but keeper Brianna Williams made three saves in the first period to keep it scoreless. Emily D'Amico broke the stalemate less than 10 minutes into the second period, and Sunny Gelnovatch scored in the 59' to double the lead. In total Messiah outshot the Knights 17-2, and they also earned nine corners.
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| No. 3 Widener Pride - 12-5 Overall, 5-3 MAC Commonwealth |
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The Pride lost just three games in the conference, and two of those came to the teams in front: Messiah (4-0) and Arcadia (2-0). They also lost to Stevenson by a 2-1 score, but overall they've scored 43 goals on more than 16 shots per game. However, the Pride have also given up 28 goals, and their save percentage is just 0.641—the lowest in the conference. If Widener can advance it will be on the back of their attack, which boasts six double-digit scorers led by Shea Scannell (9g, 3a). She is also one of four players with multiple game-winners, with Eva Reyes (6a, 2a) leading the way with three.
When They Met: Brooke Firestone scored less than seven minutes into play and Megan Mansfield tallied twice to lead Messiah to a 4-0 road win over the Pride. The Falcons outshot the Pride 17-2, and Lydia Ewing was untested in goal. Sam Thach made nine saves for Widener, who otherwise could not generate a consistent presence in Messiah's territory.
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| No. 5 Lebanon Valley Dutchmen - 8-5-3 Overall, 4-4 MAC Commonwealth |
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The Dutchmen arrive into to the Semifinal via a 1-0 win over Albright. Teanna Shutt scored her ninth goal of the season to make the difference. The decision ended a regular season-ending three-game losing streak to the other three teams in the tournament: Messiah (2-0), Arcadia (2-1), and Widener (2-0). Jo Rileigh Evitts leads the Dutchmen with 11 goals and 23 total points, with Shutt (9g, 2a) and Meghan Ross (5g, 7a) also in double-digit points. Shutt increased her team lead in winners to four against Albright. Thus far, Lebanon Valley has scored 32 goals and allowed 18, and they're also outshooting opponents by a small margin, 12.8 to 10.3.
When They Met: Messiah won 2-0 over Lebanon Valley on Homecoming Day. Sunny Gelnovatch opened the scoring with a header in the fourth minute, and Brooke Firestone made it 2-0 late in the half after some great combo passing atop the box by Julia Kyne and Maddie Kohl. The first-half scores held up, and Messiah finished with a 19-2 advantage in shots, though just seven of the Falcons' offerings went on frame. |
Conference Championship History
The Falcons have won 15 of the past 17 conference titles, including back-to-back wins over Arcadia in 2015 (1-0) and 2016 (2-0). All of the Falcons' championships have been earned with head coach
Scott Frey at the helm.
