SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. - Top-ranked Messiah College scored three goals in a span of 4:40 in the second half, and then got the game-winner on a penalty stroke with just under ten minutes left as the Falcons (22-0) advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship with a 4-3 win over Ursinus (20-3) on Saturday afternoon in the Division III Semifinals at Mount Holyoke College.
The Bears held a 2-0 lead after one half of play, but, Messiah scored all four in the second half to win.

"It was an exciting game," said Ursinus head coach Laura Moliken afterwards. "In the first half, we played really well and Messiah made some great adjustments in the second half."

Messiah junior forward Kourtney Ehly scored three goals in the win, coming in the 45^th, 49^th and 50^th minute. Senior midfielder Elizabeth Ziegler scored the game-winner at 60:02 on a penalty stroke past Ursinus senior goalkeeper Erica Scott (Carney's Point, N.J./St. Elizabeth).

For Ursinus, sophomore forward Alyssa Thren (Barto, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) had two goals, while senior forward Jen Hooven (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) had one. Junior midfielder Megan Yoder (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) and junior midfielder Michelle Wimmer (Palm, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) each had assists.

Scott played brilliantly in the first half, making seven saves as the Falcons had 11 shots in the first 35 minutes.

"In the first half, we played great defensively," said Scott afterwards. "It was an honor to play with such a great group of girls all season long."

The Bears got their first penalty corner at 2:20, but Yoder drove in and was stopped, setting up another corner. That other corner was stopped by the Falcons, as junior midfielder Bridget Resetco (West Chester, Pa./Downingtown West)  was unable to get a shot off in the middle of the circle.

Messiah was awarded its first penalty corner at 6:50, getting two shots off, but Scott made two great saves on the right side of the cage. Another penalty corner 15 seconds later saw the Falcons shot blocked by junior back Taylor Weidensaul (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin).

Messiah's third penalty corner at 11:51 did not result on a goal as the shot was blocked.

The Falcons fourth corner of the game, at 14:48, allowed Scott to make another great save as she knocked the ball down in the air.

A shot by Messiah senior forward Katie Love was saved by Scott at 16:05, but, a corner was awarded. The ensuing corner, which saw Doutt block a shot, allowed the Falcons to get yet another corner but the Falcons did not convert.

Hooven scored her 19^th goal of the year and first of the game at 19:09 as her first shot was blocked, but, she poked it through the left side of the cage for the 1-0 lead.

Ursinus got another corner at 20:43, but, Yoder's shot was blocked.

Thren scored her 33^rd goal of the season on an assist from Wimmer at 31:25, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead heading into the half.

Messiah cut the Bears lead to 2-1 at 45:36 as Ehly scored the first of her three goals on a high shot that went right side over Scott.

At 49:05, Messiah evened the score at 2-all when Ehly scored on an assist by senior forward Jenna Max. Off of the restart, Thren scored her lone goal of the game on an assist by Yoder for a 3-2 lead. Thren's goal was the 34^th of the season for the sophomore.

Just over 30 seconds later, Messiah responded as Ehly drove from midfield to tie the score at 3-all.

A shot by Thren at 54:08 was saved on the line by senior defender Mary Hoover. Two shots by Ehly were saved, including one by senior back Katie Hunt (New Castle, Del./Wilmington Friends).

Ziegler was awarded a penalty stroke after a foul in the circle at 60:02, of which she converted by shooting it in the lower right half of the cage.

Ursinus did not get off a shot in the final nine minutes, but, did have three penalty corners. The last corner came at 65:11.

Ursinus was outshot 17-14, but, did have 12 penalty corners to seven for Messiah. Scott finished with seven saves in the loss, while senior goalkeeper Ashley Mowery had six saves for the Falcons.

"I'm very proud of this group," Moliken said. "They took some lumps early and fought back. It's an incredible accomplishment to make it to the Final Four two straight years. They have nothing to hang their head about. "