Story Courtesy of Messiah Athletics

GRANTHAM, Pa.  – On an extremely windy Sunday afternoon, the eighth-ranked Messiah University used an early goal from Hannah Adair and shutdown defense to defeat the twenty-fifth ranked Mammoths of Amherst College, 1-0. The broke onto the scoreboard early with a goal from Hannah Adair by Addi Martin to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute. The Mammoths sent three shots on goal looking to tie the game in the rest of the first half, but Ava Wert made three saves to hold the Falcons lead a 1-0 at the half. The Falcons defense made several clutch plays in the second half with Wert totaling two saves and the Falcons defenders blocking several shots to give the Falcons the 1-0 win and a trip to the Sweet Sixteen for the fourth-straight season.
 
Up next, the Falcons will play No. 23 Calvin University in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen on Friday, Nov. 21. Location and time are still to be determined. Please follow on gomessiah.com for updates.

First Half
The Falcons started the game looking for an early goal. Mia Libby sent a shot on goal in the second minute, but the Mammoths' goalkeeper made the save to keep the game tied early. After the Mammoths had a pair of shots go wide, the Falcons looked to break the scoreless tie in the eighth minute. Ava Wert started the play, booting the ball to the midfield line to Addi Martin. Martin poked the ball forward to Hannah Adair, and she quickly played a ball to the outside to Alayna Williams. Williams took a couple of dribbles towards the right corner of the box and sent a pass to Martin just outside the box. Martin quickly moved the ball to the center of the box to Adair. Adair then floated a one-timer, that surprised the Amherst goalkeeper, into the right corner of the goal to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Mammoths then looked for a tying goal and sent two shots on goal, but Ava Wert made a pair of saves to keep the Falcons one-goal lead in the 23rd minute. After the second save, the Falcons looked to add to their lead in the 24th minute. Brittany Laird sent a shot on goal, but the Mammoths' goalkeeper made the save to keep Amherst within one. The Mammoths got their final shot on goal of the half in the 25th minute, but Wert made another save to hold the Falcons lead. Each team had a couple of chances the rest of the half, with both defenses making great defensive efforts to block shots and force wide shots to hold the score at 1-0 at the break.
 
Second Half
After some back-and-forth play, the Mammoths looked for the tying goal in the 56th minute, but Ava Wert made the save to keep the Falcons 1-0 lead. Just two minutes, the Falcons looked for an insurance goal with a shot from Brittany Laird, but the Amherst goalie kept the Mammoths within one with a save. Both defenses locked down each other's offenses until the Mammoths looked for the tying goal with a shot in the 87th minute. Ava Wert made the save and the Falcons were able to prevent any more shots from Mammoths to earn the 1-0 win.
 
Stats
Hannah Adair scored the game-winner in the eighth minute. Addi Martin tallied the assist. The Falcons totaled 19 shots with five shots on goal. The Mammoths tallied 16 shots with five shots on goal. Ava Wert earned the shutout win in goal for the Falcons and made five saves.
 
Next
The Falcons will play No. 23 Calvin University in the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen on Friday, Nov. 21. Location and time are still to be determined. Please follow on gomessiah.com for updates.