Box Score GRANTHAM, PA – The Messiah College women's soccer team won 3-0 over Rowan University in the third round of the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament on Saturday.
 
The Falcons (21-0-2) will play the winner of the Hardin-Simmons University (19-2-1) and Swarthmore College (18-2-1) game on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the sectional final.  The winner from Sunday advances to the national semifinals and final, which are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, December 4 and December 5 at Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City, MO.

Messiah had a 1-0 lead after the first half.  Forward Holly Burgard (sr. Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg) scored the goal at 26:56.  In the second stanza, forward Nikki Elsaesser (sr. Old Bridge, NJ/Timothy Christian) hit the net (52:01) on a pass by Burgard.  Elsaesser produced an unassisted goal 12 minutes later. 

Goalie Audra Larson (sr. Montoursville, PA/Montoursville) recorded her 12th shutout on the season.  Messiah has only allowed three goals this year in 23 games.  Rowan goalkeeper Shelby Money (fr. Vineland, NJ/Vineland) made nine saves.
 
The Profs end the season with a 15-3-2 record.  Rowan advanced to the third round with shutouts over Lasell College, 2-0 and Lynchburg College, 1-0.  The Profs received an automatic bid to the national tournament as the champion of the New Jersey Athletic Conference.  It was Rowan's 11th appearance in the postseason and second time in the third round.