GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Messiah women's soccer team scored once before the break and once after en route to their 19th Conference Championship in program history with a 2-0 shutout victory over the York Spartans on Saturday evening. Lydia Ring got the Falcons on the board with a finish in the 38th minute off a feed from Hannah Adair. In the second half, Adair got a goal of her own, adding an insurance tally in the 74th minute. The Falcons held the Spartans to just two shots on the night while attempting 17 of their own.
 
With the victory, Messiah improves to 17-1-2 on the season and claims their 19th Conference Championship in the last 22 seasons. The Falcons also clinch their 22nd-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament that begins next weekend. Messiah will find out their First Round opponent on Monday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. when the bracket is released via a selection show on ncaa.com.
 
How It Happened
With a chance to avenge their lone loss from the regular season, the Messiah women's soccer team was held scoreless for a majority of the opening half. The Falcons were limited to quality chances by the Spartans, however Julia Martin had a dangerous header saved in the fourth minute. That early chance was the scariest in the early going for the Falcons.
 
In the 24th minute, it looked like the Falcons were going to be in on goal, but York's Morgan Joyce tackled Briann Seip from behind before she could get into the box. That tackle resulted in a yellow card, but the Falcons were unable to make anything of the free kick.
 
After a shot from Kylie Firestone was saved in the 35th minute, the Falcons would get on the board. From the midfield, Bella Touzeau sent a well-weighted ball for Hannah Adair down the right side. Touzeau's feed sat right on the end line for Adair, who collected herself and sent a delivery toward the back post. Lydia Ring ran onto the feed and got her right foot on the delivery, finding the back of the net and give Messiah a 1-0 lead with less than eight minutes remaining in the half.
 
That 1-0 lead would hold for the bulk of the second half before Hannah Adair would double it for the Falcons in the 74th minute. Over the course of the first 30 minutes of the half, Messiah sent six shots on goal that required saves from York's Jacqueline Keogh. The Falcons would finally break through with some insurance in the 74th minute off the foot of Adair. Kylie Firestone slipped a one-touch pass to Adair at the top of the box on the right side. Adair, took one controlling touch and drove a left-footed strike into the left-side netting for a 2-0 Messiah lead.
 
That was it for the scoring as Messiah would clinch their 19th Conference Championship in program history by a 2-0 final on an unseasonably warm Saturday night in Grantham.
 
What's Up Next
With the victory, Messiah earns the automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Tournament. The Falcons will learn who their First Round opponent will be on Monday afternoon during the NCAA selection show that will air on ncaa.com at 2:00 p.m. Fans are encouraged to follow GoMessiah.com throughout the week for more information on the upcoming NCAA Tournament.