GRANTHAM, Pa. – Two quick goals in the first eight minutes of Wednesday's MAC Commonwealth Semifinal Match helped lift the top-seeded Messiah women's soccer team to a 4-0 victory over Widener Pride. With the victory, Messiah advances to the MAC Commonwealth Championship Game on Saturday against the second-seeded York Spartans at a time to be determined.
 
The Spartans earned a 5-1 victory over Lebanon Valley on Wednesday night in the other semifinal match to clinch their spot in the Conference Championship Game. Messiah and York met last season with the Conference title on the line, Messiah won that match 3-0, however York handed the Falcons their lone loss of the season back on Oct. 12 in a 1-0 match.
 
Kylie Firestone led the Falcons with a pair of goals on Wednesday night. She got the scoring started early with a tally in the fourth minute off a feed from Rachael Tirjan. Firestone added her second goal in the 56th minute while also finding Julia Martin on a corner kick goal in the eighth minute.
 
Tahlia Lloyd also found the back of the net for the Falcons, volleying a delivery from Shelby Burger in the 52nd minute.
 
As mentioned, the Falcons will host the York Spartans in the 2022 MAC Commonwealth Championship Match on Saturday evening. The match will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night as the nightcap of a soccer doubleheader with the men beginning at 5:00 p.m.
 
How It Happened
The Falcons wasted no time getting on the board. In just the fourth minute, Rachael Tirjan carried possession to the end line and slipped a ball into the middle of the box for Kylie Firestone. Her one-time shot slotted past the keeper for a 1-0 lead early. Just moments later the Falcons were at it again, this time it was Firestone earning the assist. Off a corner kick, Firestone sent a hard delivery toward the back post for a streaking Julia Martin. The unmarked Martin hammered home the header from point blank range the Falcons led 2-0 less than eight minutes into the match.
 
The Falcons kept that 2-0 lead through the half.
 
In the seconds half, Messiah was on the front foot for nearly he entirety of the half. The Falcons attempted 25 shots in the second half alone, forcing the Pride to make 11 saves. Two of those 25 attempts found the back of the net With Tahlia Lloyd scoring her first career goal in the 52nd minute and Kylie Firestone scoring her second goal of the night in the 56th minute.
 
Lloyd's tally came on a beautiful volley off a feed from Shelby Burger. From the left side, Burger lofted a ball toward the back post for Lloyd. Her controlled volley went into the left-side netting and put the Falcons up 3-0.
 
Just four minutes later, Rachael Tirjan got loose down the left side and slipped a pass to Firestone at the top of the box. Firestone spun and tucked a shot inside the left post for a 4-0 Messiah lead.
 
The Falcons would hold the Pride without a shot in the match, while attempting 32 of their own en route to the 4-0 victory.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will now play in their 22nd-straight Conference Championship Game. The Falcons will host the York Spartans on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on Shoemaker Field. Messiah has claimed 18 Conference Titles since 2000, including the last three that have been contested (2018, 2019, and 2021).