Messiah Defeats Ithaca 3-1; Advance to Final Four
YORK, PA - The Messiah College women's soccer team defeated Ithaca College 3-1 in NCAA Tournament Elite Eight action Sunday afternoon at York College's Graham Field. With the victory the Falcons (22-0) advance to the Final Four at Disney's Wide World of Sports, which begins Friday, November 23. Ithaca ends their season after posting a stellar 19-4 record.
Messiah got on the board first as Emily Cope connected with Joanna Haqq for the first goal of the match 13:24 into the game. Cope played a marvelous through ball to the on-running Haqq who slipped it past Bomber goalkeeper Aimee Meacham for her fourth score of the season.
Ten minutes later, Ithaca tallied the equalizer when Chelsey Feldman snapped home a header off a Beth Hoover corner kick. Feldman's tally, her team-leading 19th goal of the season, slipped just through the hands of Messiah goalkeeper Brindley Beckwith before going in the net on a wet afternoon in York.
Messiah regained the lead before halftime when Amanda Naeher notched the first of her two goals. Amy Horst played in a brilliant cross from the left side of the pitch to the awaiting Naeher who hammered home a full volley rocket. Naeher's eleventh goal of the season would prove to be the game winner.
In the 77th minute of play, Naeher secured Messiah ticket to the Final Four when she finished an Avie Fitzgerald corner kick. Naeher's twelfth goal of the 2007 campaign put her squad up by the final score of 3-1.
For the game, Messiah held a 15-4 bulge in shots and gained a slight advantage in corner kicks at 4-2.
Ithaca goalkeeper Meacham played well in net for the Bomber registering five saves on the day. Beckwith was not forced to make any saves for the Falcon side.