GRANTHAM, Pa. – The top-seeded Messiah field hockey team outlasted visiting No. 4 Alvernia University, 1-0, in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals at Anderson Field on Wednesday night. Nicole Shank provided the fourth quarter goal, scoring from a penalty corner opportunity with just 9:15 remaining in the contest.
 
With the narrow victory, the Falcons advance their 31st conference championship game. Messiah will clash with No. Widener University at Anderson Field on Saturday with a chance to claim its 27th conference championship in program history, and its 14th-straight.
 
The Falcons outshot the Golden Wolves, 11-4, allowing just one shot on goal for the entire contest. Junior goalkeeper Catie Brubaker made a phenomenal breakaway save with just 2:34 remaining in the game to preserve the one-goal edge.
 
Scoreless Half
The opening period of play proved to be scoreless between the two sides. Messiah was on the front foot for much of the first quarter, outshooting Alvernia, 5-0. Alvernia first-year goalkeeper Lexi Boettcher kept her side in the contest, making a total of six saves in the first half.
 
The Falcons totaled nine shots in the first two quarters as six of the attempts were on targer. As mentioned, Boettcher rose to the occasion on each of the attempts at her cage. Madi Johnson and Malcolm each had two shots on goal, as Ashlyn Smith and Allie Mast each had an attempt on goal as well. The Falcons earned three penalty corners to the Golden Wolves' one, as the two sides entered halftime knotted up at 0-0.
 
Falcons Break Through
Tensions began to rise in the semifinal matchup as the two sides remained tied. The Golden Wolves earned a penalty corner opportunity four minutes into the third quarter, but the Messiah defense prevailed. Outside of the Alvernia penalty corner, there was not much action in the third period of play. The Golden Wolves did not allow the Falcons to fire off a shot in the period, despite the Falcons earning two penalty corners in the quarter. As the third quarter expired with Alvernia and Messiah level at 0-0, the fourth quarter was set up for dramatics.
 
Just over five minutes into the final quarter of regulation, the Falcons got themselves a penalty corner. Leah Bryner found Shank at the top of the shooting circle, firing the ball past Boettcher with a low shot. The Falcons got themselves on the board, 1-0, proving to be the game-winning tally.
 
Messiah held on for the one-goal victory, but not without late-game heroics from its junior goalkeeper. Preserving the one-goal edge, Alvernia had a breakaway attempt with just over two minutes remaining in the contest. The Golden Wolves' Hailey Miller had a clear one-on-one situation with Brubaker, as the goalkeeper kept the shot out of the cage with a sprawling effort to keep Messiah ahead.
 
The Falcons needed just one tally to advance to the conference championship, and will look to clinch their ninth MAC Commonwealth title under head coach Brooke Good.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah (15-2, 8-0 MAC Commonwealth) advances to the MAC Commonwealth Championship game against No. 3 Widener University on Saturday at Anderson Field, set to begin at 1:00 p.m.