Three second-half goals lifted #6 Messiah to a 3-0 victory over Middlebury during NCAA Tournament Sectional semifinal action Saturday afternoon on Williams's Cole Field. Messiah (20-2-0) advances to play the third-ranked Ephs, a 2-1 victor over #12 Johns Hopkins in the day's first match, on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Middlebury finishes it season with a record of 15-5-0.

Messiah looked to get on the scoreboard in the second minute when a Middlebury handball in the penalty area gave the Falcons a penalty kick. Marissa Weaver stepped toward the ball, sending a left-footed shot which curled and hit the crossbar squarely over the hand of Middlebury goalkeeper Ursula Alwang and bounced away.

In the 38th minute, a left-footed shot by Brooke Firestone was saved by Ulwang, as a rebound squirted toward a charging Lilly Shover. Ulwang was again up for the task, laying out to her right to deny Shover. Messiah outshot Middlebury by an 8-0 count in the opening half.

After the break, the Falcons got on the board in the 48th minute. As a part of a corner kick, Messiah's Olivia Snare sent a curling ball into the box toward the Panther goal. The official on the goal line ruled that Ulwang touched the attempt while behind the line, giving the Falcons a 1-0 advantage at 47:34.

Messiah doubled its lead a little more than eight minutes later. DJ Cole sent a lofting pass toward the offensive third to Marissa Weaver, who corralled the ball for the Falcons. She touched the ball to her right foot, ripping a shot just inside the penalty area past a diving Ulwang.  

The Falcons made it a 3-0 score at the 63:15 mark when Skylar Ulry sent a cross from the right to the feet of Kate Shults, who one-touched it just inside the near post.

Turning up the offensive pressure in the final minutes, Adrianna Gildner recorded Middlebury's initial shot on goal in the 82nd minute, a right-footed blast that was saved by Messiah goalie Sara Yunez.

Alwang recorded a pair of saves in front of the Panther goal, while Yunez finished with a save for the Falcons. Messiah held a 13-3 advantage in shots and a 4-1 edge in corner kicks.