GRANTHAM, Pa. - For the fifth-straight season and 20th time in program history, the Messiah women's soccer team is Champions of the MAC Commonwealth. The Falcons earned a 4-1 victory over the second-seeded York Spartans on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. Bella Touzeau started the scoring in the 12th minute before the Falcons added three goals in the second half to earn the victory. Julia Martin, Hannah Adair, and Molly Adams scored second-half goals to take a 4-0 lead.
 
York got on the board in the 90th minute, but Messiah earned the 4-1 victory to claim their 20th Conference Championship.
 
With the victory, Messiah earns a spot in the NCAA Tournament that begins next weekend. The Falcons will learn their Tournament match-up on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in a Selection Show on ncaa.com.
 
Taking an Early Lead
The Falcons took an early 1-0 lead, thanks to a finish from Bella Touzeau. The junior finished off a feed from Bailie Dull that was served into the box from the right side. A Spartan defender got a head on the delivery, but the ball bounced to the foot of a streaking Touzeau in the middle of the box. With the keeper coming off of her line, Touzeau slipped a quick shot inside the left post for the lead in just the 12th minute.
 
Over the next half hour, the Spartan defense allowed just three more Messiah shots. The Falcons put two on frame late in the first half with attempts from Mia Libby and Kierstyn Fogle saved in the 36th and 43rd minutes. After 45 mintues of play, Messiah held a 1-0 lead in the MAC Commonwealth Championship Game.
 
Opening Things Up
The Falcons widened the margin just three minutes into the second half with Julia Martin heading home a delivery from Kristina Akselsen on a corner kick. Martin's goal was her sixth of the season and gave Messiah a 2-0 lead. In the 55th minute, Hannah Adair knocked a shot off the post, but quickly collected her rebound and scored, pushing the lead to 3-0.
 
Molly Adams capped off the Messiah scoring in the 69th minute from distance. Adams collected possession on the right side and turned toward the middle of the field. With time and space, Adams lofted a shot over top of the keeper and into the back of the net for the Falcons fourth and final goal of the day.
 
That was not the end of the scoring for the match as York capped things off in the 90th minute with a score from Meg Kalthof off a pass from Morgan Joyce.
 
Despite the late York goal, Messiah earned the comfortable 4-1 victory, improving to 17-2-0 on the season while claiming their fifth-straight MAC Commonwealth Championship in the process.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons are heading to the NCAA Tournament for the 22nd-straight season and will find out their First Round opponent on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Currently, the Falcons are ranked fifth in the country and second in the region. Fans can watch the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Selection Show on Monday on ncaa.com.