Owing Mills, MD – Messiah College scored early in the second-half to overcome a 0-1 deficit, and played through two overtimes with Stevenson before falling 4-3 in the Commonwealth Championship shootout. The draw was the second of the season between the two teams, with the other also 1-1 back on Oct. 15. This time, however, the postseason shootout favored the Mustangs as they ended the Falcons' seven-year run conference champions.
 
Stevenson's goal broke the stalemate in the 44th minute, as Kellen Wittman followed up a blocked shot in the box for her ninth goal of the season. Lauren Spivey got off the first look after Ashlyn Hawbaker made the long throw-in, and Messiah couldn't clear it before Wittman struck from eight yards out.
 
The game remained in Stevenson's favor until the 55th minute, when Nikki Elsaesser got to the right end line before crossing on the ground to the far side. The ball evaded the Mustangs' defense and went clear across to Mackenzie Clapper who put it through to even the score.
 
The two teams played end-to-end at times, with Stevenson doing all they could to disrupt the possession and tempo of Messiah's attack. The Falcons managed to hold territory for good stretches at a time, and Elsaesser nearly put one into the upper 90 in the 75th minute. That shot went just wide of the goal, however, and the two teams eventually went to overtime.
 
In the 93rd minute Elsaesser fired an identical attempt from the right side of the 18, but her strike again went inches wide of the upper 90 and the game remained 1-1.
 
Messiah's best chance at the game-winner came in the 105th minute when Elsaesser and Erin Sollenberger found themselves 2-on-1 with a Stevenson defender. Elsaesser slotted Sollenberger to the left, but the tackle was made just before another touch or shot could be had.
 
In the shootout, Hannah Weyland first missed for the Falcons but Marisa Weaver and Holly Burgard followed with scores to keep Messiah in step at 2-2. On Stevenson's third attempt, Jordan Porretto sailed her shot high, a significant miss that would have kept the score 2-2 heading into the fourth round; however, the official awarded a somewhat-favorable re-kick after ruling that Audra Larson moved too quickly off her line. Porretto made her second attempt and, after Clapper missed, Brittney Celano sealed the decision for Stevenson, 4-3.
 
The loss dropped Messiah to 19-0-2 on the season, and also marked the second-straight season a Messiah soccer team was ousted from the Commonwealth Tournament by way of a shootout; last season the men's team was defeated by Lycoming before finishing the season as Division III Champions.
 
Stevenson moved to 10-5-5 with the shootout win, and earned their first-ever conference title.
 
Fans are encouraged to follow GoMessiah.com for information on the NCAA Championships Tournament that is set to start next weekend; the Falcons' women will undoubtedly receive an at-large bid into the field.
 
GoMessiah.com will post the link to the Selection Show, which is set to air on Monday afternoon.