Hartford, CT - An instant-classic between local rivals in the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 ended in heartbreak for Messiah on Saturday as York won 8-7 in overtime. The loss ended the No. 4 Falcons' season at 16-3, and it also ended a program record-tying 14-game win streak. No. 11 York improved to 16-3 and they will play tomorrow against host No. 10 Trinity.
 
The Rematch and Repeat
Saturday's game was a rematch of a 9-5 win by York from earlier this season and, despite being separated by just 40 minutes, the two teams met up at the Regional hosted by Trinity. In that first meeting, which was also Messiah's last loss before today, the teams combined for just six goals in the first-half. On Saturday, they combined for just four tallies in a hotly-contested and defensive battle.
 
Messiah got on the board first in the sixth minute when Jenna Stover took a feed from Ida Ehrhardt for a goal on the right side. That early lead was made possible by the Falcons' tremendous defensive effort, with Alexa Dipeso making two impressive saves in the first few minutes.
 
York evened the score less than two minutes after Messiah tallied, and another goal wouldn't be had until the 13:10 mark when Stover again put one through, this time off a quick pass from Courtney Wagner.
 
Defensive Brilliance
York took more shots (9-7), collected more draw controls (4-1), and turned it over two less times (7-5) than Messiah in the first-half and, considering they're penchant for long possessions, one could see Messiah's defense had a huge challenge. But they were up to the task, especially Dipeso. She made six saves in the first period, with each one more brilliant than the next, and she also held York to just 1-6 on free-position shots.
 
The lone goal for York on a free-position shot came with just 11 seconds left, and it tied the game at 2-2.
 
Blow for Blow
Starting with the first goal of the game, Messiah and York alternated goals until it was 5-5 with 8:59 left in the second period. A missed opportunity for Messiah came after Ida Ehrhardt's sweet tally off a screen gave Messiah a 4-3 lead midway through the frame. She followed that up with a draw control and, seconds later, York's Melissa Meehling was whistled for a yellow. Now in a man-up situation, Messiah worked for a shot from Stover that hit the post.
 
That missed shot was scooped up by York, and they ran out the penalty to set-up a goal by Meehling herself that tied it at 4-4.
 
Minutes later Meehling tallied again to make it 5-5, and then York got back-to-back goals from Regan Cook to go up 7-5. The last of those tallies stung especially hard considering that seconds earlier a shot from Meghan Fox was saved by Dipeso.
 
Meeting the Challenge
Now trailing 7-5 with less than six minutes to play, Messiah rallied to tie the game once again. The first came from Stephanie Athens off a feed from Ehrhardt, with her shot from the left side beating goalie Charlotte Wright top-shelf.
 
Athens then grabbed the draw control, but Ehrhardt gave it up in the midfield and York had the ball—and the lead—with less than four minutes to play. The Falcons needed a big play, and Brooke Gamble provided just that with a caused turnover near the sideline to get Messiah back on attack.
 
The Falcons quickly pushed forward and found Courtney Wagner, and she was tripped from behind on her approach to cage. On the ensuing free-position shot Wager bounced it into the net to make it 7-7.
 
Don't Blink
With momentum on their side Messiah again came up with a draw control thanks to Ehrhardt's second effort, and they earned free-position shot for Elle Barger with 2:29 to play. Unfortunately, her quick shot was nabbed by Wright, and York had the ball for the final stretch.
 
With fans moving to the edge of their seat York ran off two minutes before Skye Slater bounced a shot from the left wing that Dipeso saved in dramatic fashion. The final seconds ran off before Messiah could get on the attack, and the teams headed to overtime.
 
Finding Heartbreak
Kathryn Milwicz earned the overtime's draw control to give Messiah possession, but they couldn't get off a shot before turning it over. York came down and had two looks on Dipeso, but the All-American goalie made two more terrific stops and get Messiah back on the clear.
 
However, Messiah again failed to get off a shot before the overtime horn blew, and York then grabbed the draw control on the restart. Just 45 seconds into the restart Katelyn Cattrano found Cook on a streak across the crease, and Cook dumped a shot over Dipeso's shoulder for the winner.
 
By the Numbers
Messiah's All-Americans—Athens, Dipeso, and Stover—each had big games as Athens and Stover each tallied twice and Dipeso collected 11 saves. The defense, as mentioned, was really strong for Messiah as seven different players collected a draw control, including a team-high of three from Gamble.
 
Messiah recovered from a sluggish first-half on attack to match York in shots (11) in the second period, but they also were outshot 3-0 in the overtime session. The Falcons also went just 1-5 on free-position shots, though Dipeso's stellar cage work kept York to just 3-9.
 
As mentioned, Messiah did match a program record with 14-straight wins before today's decision, and their 16 overall wins is tied for second-most in program history. This was Messiah's seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament and fourth appearance in the Sweet 16.