Championship Central

GRANTHAM, PA. (Women’s Soccer) – The top-seeded Messiah Falcons defeated the No. 3 Arcadia Knights by a score of 1-0 to claim their 14^th MAC Commonwealth Women’s Soccer title. The Falcons have played in every MAC Commonwealth final since 2000, and now have a 14-2 all-time record in conference finals.
 
Messiah (18-0-2) scored what turned out to be the game’s only goal in the 14th minute. Kayla Deckert set up the MAC Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year Nikki Elsaesser for the game-winner.
 
Arcadia (14-6) was only able to record four shots, three on goal in the game. The Falcons blistered the Knights with 19 shots, seven on goal. Messiah also outgained Arcadia in corners by a 12-2 margin.
 
The Falcons’ Audra Larson made three saves in the shutout. Larson improved her NCAA shutout record to 66—10 this season. Her record stands across all three Divisions and across both genders.
 
The Knights’ Evelyn Feigeles made six saves in the loss.
 
Messiah’s defender Missy Biener was named the MAC Commonwealth Championship MVP after anchoring the backline that held Arcadia to just four shots, three on goal. Biener also helped shut down the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen in the semifinal round, holding them to one shot.
 
Messiah earns the MAC Commonwealth automatic qualifier (AQ) to the NCAA Division III Championship. The field will be announced on Monday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. at www.NCAA.com.