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GRANTHAM, Pa. -- Nazareth's women's soccer season came to an end Saturday as second-ranked Messiah scored an early goal and went on to defeat the Golden Flyers, 3-0, in a third-round match in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Golden Flyers, making their deepest post-season run since 1999, finished their season at 15-4-4 overall. Messiah, winners of five national titles in the last 10 years, improved to 22-0-2 overall and will play again Sunday against the winner of the Lynchburg-Montclair State game with a berth to the Final Four at stake.
"We're proud of what we've accomplished this season," said Nazareth Coach
Gail Mann. "We knew it would be a tough matchup, but I thought we played hard the whole way."
The Golden Flyers found themselves playing catchup early as Messiah scored just 56 seconds into the game as Marisa Weaver buried a crossing pass from Nikki Elsaesser to give the Falcons an early advantage. Nazareth was able to keep the Falcons off the scoreboard the rest of the half, but had difficulty generating any attack. Messiah finished with a 21-1 advantage in shots and an 11-1 edge in corner kicks.
Messiah added two more goals in the second half. Holly Burgard scored at 61 minutes and Weaver added her second goal of the game and 17th of the season with just over five minutes left.
Sophomore
Michaela Soules created Nazareth's lone shot. That came in the second half, but it sailed wide of the goal. Sophomore
Allison Dobles played all 90 minutes in goal for Nazareth and made four saves.
"I'm proud of our effort and of the fact that we never gave up," said Nazareth senior captain
Ashtin Argentieri. "Even when we fell behind early, I thought our effort was there all the way."
Nazareth's roster included six seniors and one grad student --
Tori Ryan,
Kaitlyn Sowyrda,
Ashtin Argentieri,
Tyler Carr,
Elizabeth Howell,
Emily McGaffic and
Christine Belding -- who competed in their final game.
"We got to stay together a couple of weeks longer than we have in previous seasons," said senior captain
Tyler Carr. "I'm proud of all that we were able to accomplish."