Messiah University

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Maddie Kohl curled a corner kick into the back of the net in the 19th minute of a 1-0 victory for No. 2 Messiah women's soccer against the RIT Tigers in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. With the victory, Messiah advances to the Third Round of the Tournament and will take the field against the Lynchburg Hornets on Friday evening in Newport News, Va. at 5:00 p.m..
 
Messiah outshot the Tigers 15-5 in the match and with the victory, advances to the Sweet 16 for the 18th time in the last 19 seasons.
 
Early Goal
Just over 90 seconds into the match, Maddie Kohl took the first shot of the game with an attempt that was saved by RIT's keeper, Alyssa Salls. The Tigers then followed with two shots of their own, sending looks wide of the goal in the fifth and eighth minute.
 
Sunny Gelnovatch ripped a shot high of the cross bar in the 10th minute before Messiah settled in and earned corners in the 16th and 19th minutes. On the second of the two corners, Maddie Kohl wrapped her service around the post and into the side netting for the first, and what turned out to be, only, goal of the day. The tally was the seventh of the season for the sophomore and gave Messiah a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute.
 
The Falcons continued to pressure and nearly doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Sunny Gelnovatch rattled an attempt off the cross bar. Her shot stayed out and the lead remained 1-0.
 
RIT had a few looks late in the half with shots in the 32nd and 37th minutes blocked and sent wide, respectively.
 
Quiet Second-Half
Messiah's 1-0 lead remained into the second-half where the game turned primarily to the midfield. Between the two teams a total of six shots were taking in the second-half.
 
Messiah collected five of the six attempts, but it was the Tigers that had the best look of the half. In the 83rd minute off a corner kick, RIT's Jessica Jones sent a ball toward goal that had to be cleared away by the Falcons' defense off the goal line.
 
Messiah handled the pressure and held on for the 1-0 victory.
 
What's Up Next
With the victory, Messiah moves into the Sectional Weekend against the Lynchburg Hornets at a time and location to be determined. Lynchburg defeated the Emory Eagles 2-0 in Second Round to earn a date with Messiah in the Sectional Semifinals. Messiah and Lynchburg last met in the Sectional Finals in 2014 when the Hornets advanced on penalty kicks after the two sides drew 1-1. Messiah is 2-0-2 against Lynchburg all-time.