ST. LOUIS, Mo. – On Saturday afternoon, the fifth-ranked Messiah University women's soccer team fell 3-2 in overtime to the Maroons of the University of Chicago in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen. The Falcons fell behind early with a penalty kick goal from the Maroons in the fourth minute. Neither team added a goal, and the Falcons went into the half down 1-0. The Maroon added another goal in the 53rd minute to take a 2-0 lead. The Falcons though battled back with a goal in the 55th minute from Mia Libby by Addi Martin to reduce the Maroons' lead to one. The Falcons tied the game in the 64th minute with a goal by Hannah Adair from Brittany Laird to tie the game at two. Each team had their chances to end the game in regulation, but the score remained tied, and the game headed to overtime. In the second minute of overtime, of a controversial call in the box, the Maroons ended the game with a penalty kick goal to advance to the Elite Eight.

First Half
The Maroons got on the board first with a penalty kick goal after a handball in the box to take a 1-0 lead in the just the fourth minute. The Maroons added another shot on goal in the 29th minute, but Ava Wert made the save to keep the game at 1-0 entering the half.
 
Second Half
The Maroons started the second half strong with a goal in the 53rd minute to extend the lead to 2-0. Even with the two-goal deficit the Falcons did not give in. The Falcons earned a throw in on the far side of the field on the Maroons side of the field. Bella Touzeau sent the throw just inside the right side of the box to Addi Martin. Martin headed the ball up to Mia Libby after Libby shielded the Maroons' defender from the ball, she hit the ball into the bottom-left corner to reduce the Falcons deficit to one with 35 minutes remaining. With the momentum the Falcons kept on the attack and were rewarded in the 64th minute. Jenna Skurcenski started the play switching the field from the near to the far side of the field. The ball found Mia Libby in the midfield, and she sent a long through ball to Brittany Laird. Laird then sent a pass across the box to Hannah Adair. Adair then sent the ball into the back of the open goal to tie the game at two. The Falcons had a great chance to take a late lead with a Addi Martin shot on goal, but the Maroons' goalkeeper made a great save to keep the game tied and send the two teams into overtime.
 
Overtime
The Maroons scored the game-winner on a penalty kick after a controversial foul call in the box just two minutes into overtime to give UChicago the 3-2 win.
 
Stats
Mia Libby and Hannah Adair scored the goals for the Falcons. Addi Martin and Brittany Laird each tallied an assist. The Falcons totaled five shots with three shots on goal. The Maroons tallied 13 shots with eight shots on goal. Ava Wert earned the start in goal and made a season-high five saves.
 
Season Recap
The Falcons finished the season with an 18-2-3 overall record. The Falcons went a perfect 7-0 in MAC Commonwealth on their way to their 21st conference championship in program history. The Falcons advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the third-straight season.