CAMBRIDGE, MA (Nazathletics.com) – The Nazareth Women's Soccer season came to a close on Saturday with a 3-0 loss to #9 Messiah in the First Round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championships. The Falcons move on to the second round and will face #5 MIT at 1 pm on Sunday, November 15.
Nazareth concludes the season with a 13-4-3 record, while Messiah moves to 15-2-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- 8:30 in goalkeeper Katriana Walls had a big save, tipping a hard shot from 15-yards out
- The Falcons heavy pressure was able to break through in the 13th minute. A run down the right flank was crossed to the far post and headed in for the 1-0 advantage
- Nazareth registered its first shot of the game with 22 minutes left in the half off the foot of Savanna Biehler
- Walls had another key save with eight minutes remaining as she was diving to her right and was able to keep out a low shot with a kick-save
- The first half ended with the Falcons on top 1-0 after holding a 7-1 advantage in shots
- In the second half, Messiah added a pair of goals early in the 56th and 58th minutes
- A through ball converted with the left foot made it 2-0, while a cross from the flank in the 58th bounced off a defender and in to make it 3-0
GAME NOTES:
- Messiah finished the game with a 10-2 edge in shots
- Nazareth made its 14th NCAA Tournament appearance under Gail Mann who has a 9-14 mark in tournament games
- Mann concludes her illustrious career as a coach of the Purple and Gold with a record of 391-178-84 (.663)
- Nazareth and Messiah were meeting for the second time in the history of the programs. The other matchup was in the third round of the 2014 NCAA Third Round, with the Golden Flyers falling 3-0 in Grantham, PA
- The storied Falcons program under Scott Frey has won six national championships (2019, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2005)
- Nazareth finishes the season with 13 wins, its most since the 2016 season
