PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Trailing the Washington University in St. Louis 1-0 at half, the Messiah women's soccer team used a little second-half magic with two goals early in the half to take a 2-1 lead over the Bears in the Elite Eight. WashU struck back with an equalizer in the 75th minute, forcing overtime with a berth in the Final Four on the line. After 20 minutes of scoreless soccer in overtime, Messiah prevailed 5-4 in penalty kicks to advance to the program's 14th Final Four in program history.
 
After allowing a goal in the 32nd minute off a free kick, Messiah countered with scores from Rachael Tirjan and Julia Martin in the 56th and 60th minutes to flip the game in the Falcons' favor. Messiah held that 2-1 lead for 15 minutes, but Tyler Wilson rocketed a left-footed strike to the upper 90 for the equalizer.
 
After two scoreless overtime periods, Messiah was perfect in penalty kicks, converting on all five of their kicks. WashU on the other hand, hammered their first kick off the left post. Despite making their next four kicks, the initial miss cost them a chance to advance.
 
 
The Falcons will now head to Salem, Va. to the program's 14th Final Four in program history. Messiah will take on the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays in the National Semifinal on Dec. 2 at a time to be determined.
 
How It Happened
Rachael Tirjan opened the match with a shot on goal for the Falcons, but her first-minute shot was saved. After that initial shot, Messiah and WashU battled throughout the midfield for the start of the match. It was the Bears that got on the board first, scoring in the 32nd minute off a free kick. The Bears' keeper took the free kick from around midfield and sent it into the box. The Falcons attempted to clear, the delivery but WashU kept the ball in the box. Riley Alvarez sent a shot toward the goal, rattling it off the post and in for a 1-0 lead.
 
In the 39th minute, Tahlia Lloyd sent a shot on goal, but it was saved, and the Bears held a 1-0 lead into the half.
 
The Falcons came out of the half on a mission, sending a shot just wide off the foot of Brianna Seip in the first minute of the second half. Just 11 minutes into the second half, the Falcons struck for an equalizer. Rachael Tirjan picked up possession above the box in the 56th minute. She took a quick turn to her left and fired a left-footed shot to the right post. Her attempt hit off the post and nestled into the back of the net, making it a 1-1 game.
 
Just four minutes later, Julia Martin connected on her seventh goal of the season to give Messiah a 2-1 lead. Kylie Firestone found the foot of Kenzie Spodnik for the service to Julia Martin on the right post. Martin's strong connection on the header found the back of the net and gave Messiah a 2-1 lead.
 
That lead held for 15 minutes when WashU's Tyler Wilson scored her first goal of the season with a missile from outside the box. Riley Alvarez sent a pass back to Wilson, who riffled a shot to the left upper 90 for the Bears' equalizer to make it 2-2.
 
WashU attempted three shots in the final minutes of regulation, but Ava Wert made one save and watched two shots go wide. With no goals in the final 15 minutes, Messiah and WashU headed to overtime.
 
In the 20 minutes of overtime, WashU held a slim 3-1 advantage in shots, but neither team had quality moments in the extra periods. With the score still tied 2-2 after 110 minutes of play, the match ended in a draw and penalty kicks were called on to decide which team was moving into the Final Four.
 
WashU attempted the first penalty kick with Maggie Brett rattling a shot off the left post. That was the opening the Falcons needed. Messiah proceeded to make all five of their penalty kicks to advance to the Final Four. Kristina Akselsen netted the clinching penalty kick for Messiah, giving the Falcons a 5-4 victory and moving them into the program's 14th Final Four in program history.
 
Sunday's match was the fourth time the Falcons and Bears had ever met. The meeting was the third time that the Falcons and Bears needed penalty kicks to decide an advancing team. This was the first time Messiah has beaten WashU in penalty kicks.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons advance to the Final Four and will take on the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays on Dec. 2 at a time to be determined. This year's Final Four will take place in Salem, Va. on the campus of Roanoke College.