GRANTHAM, Pa. - With four minutes remaining in the second overtime period, Sunny Gelnovatch sent a through ball through the gut of the Knight's' defense to a streaking Brooke Firestone. After a pair of controlling touches toward the middle of the box, Firestone set a rip to the right-side that beat the keeper high and gave the Falcons the 2018 MAC Commonwealth Championship with a golden goal in the 106th minute.

Messiah controlled the majority of play, out shooting Arcadia 28-7 in the match, but after 90 minutes of play the two sides remained scoreless until Firestone's heroic tally.

With the victory, Messiah claims the Automatic Qualifier from the MAC Commonwealth to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

Controlling the Tempo
Much like their scoreless meeting a few weeks ago on Oct. 24, the opening half on Saturday's Championship Game was a back-and-forth match with both teams generating opportunities. While Messiah had the better of the chances in the first-half, taking nine shots, the Knights also put together a number of dangerous moments that resulted in three shots.

Messiah controlled the tempo following half-time and out shot Arcadia 13-1 after the break. Included in that stretch was arguably the most dangerous moment of the game for either team in regulation    . In 72 minute, The Falcons sent a long through ball ahead to the speedy Megan Mansfield. An initial touch to break free of her defender sent Mansfield toward the end-line to the right of the goal. The Arcadia keeper came off her line to meet Mansfield and end the scoring opportunity, but as she slid to pick up the ball, Mansfield beat her to it and touched the ball away.

Despite the keeper being well off her line, Mansfield was in no position to shoot. Her slotted pass into the box was slowed down slightly by a defender before reaching a hustling Jessie Fisher just to the right of the penalty spot. Fisher put a hard, low shot on frame, but the slight slowdown on Mansfield's pass allowed the keeper to recover just enough to catch the shot from Fisher and keep the match scoreless.

Other chances followed bot both teams in the final 18 minutes of regulation. Arcadia's Veronica Garcia took the only shot of the half for the Knights in the 86th minute, putting an attempt on frame, but Sara Yunez was there for the save keeping it scoreless as the match turned to overtime.

Golden Goal
The first overtime period saw both teams register two shots with Messiah putting the only shot on frame with an attempt from Brooke Firestone in the 96th saved by Arcadia. The shot from Firestone was a sign of things to come as the junior forward tallied exactly 10 minutes later in the second overtime period to give Messiah the 1-0 golden goal victory.

On Messiah's fourth shot in the second overtime period, and 28th overall attempt of the evening, Firestone broke through for the game-winner. Messiah built quickly out of the back following a shot sent wide by the Knights. Sara Yunez quickly sent a the goal kick forward to DJ Cole, who carried toward midfield. After two quick passes Sunny Gelnovatch had an important turn right on the midfield stripe to break loose of her defender.

A touch toward the midfield to create some space opened a lane for a through ball to Brooke Firestone down middle of the field. Gelnovatch's ball was weighted perfectly, as Firestone picked up the pass in stride at the top of the box. As the keeper began coming off her line to cut off the angle, Firestone took one touch to get he ball on her right foot at the penalty spot and calmly beat the keeper with a shot toward the top-right corner of the goal.

Firestone's game-winner gave the Falcons their 16th Conference Championship in program history. All 16 titles have come in the last 19 seasons.

What's Up Next
With the 1-0 victory, Messiah officially punches their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the 19th-straight time thanks to the Automatic Qualifier from the MAC Commonwealth. The Falcons will learn more about their opening round match-up on Monday afternoon when the NCAA releases the bracket in a live selection show at 1:30 p.m.