Box Score CORTLAND, NY. – The Wesleyan women's soccer team had their season end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday afternoon. The Cardinals were defeated by No. 5 Messiah 1-0, with the Falcons only goal of the game coming on a penalty kick in the 71^st minute. Wesleyan finishes the season 8-6-6, making the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. Messiah (19-1-2) moves on to the Sweet Sixteen for the 20^th time in school history, seeking their 7th national title.

Wesleyan played their 2^nd straight nationally ranked team to open the NCAA Tournament, facing the 5^th ranked Falcons. Messiah got the first scoring chance of the day less than three minutes in. They created a free kick chance on the right side of the field, sending a ball into the box. It bounced around before eventually finding Kristina Akselsen from just outside the box who had her shot blocked back at her. Messiah had another opportunity at the 12-minute mark, with Julia Martin on the receiving end of a long through-ball. Martin collected it in stride, but Cheyanne Ollie '23 chased her down forcing a rushed shot that went high.

Wesleyan recorded their first shot attempt of the contest in the 18^th minute. Dani Milovanov '23 sent the corner kick into the box where it deflected off a few heads before reaching Isabelle Martin '23 who had her close shot blocked by a Falcons defender. There was only one more shot from each team recorded in the final 27 minutes of the first half, both of which were blocked by defenders.

There were a multitude of scoring chances from both teams in the second half. Wesleyan had a good opportunity in the opening minutes of the half, with a free kick from 10 yards outside the box. Waverly Meyers '25 took the kick having her shot attempt blocked back to her before her second shot went just high. Messiah came right back on a counterattack less than a minute later, getting their first shot on goal but Sarah Hammond '22 collected it.

The Cardinals might have had their best chance of the night in the 58^th minute. Grace Devanny '23 beat her defender down the left sideline before sending in a near perfect cross to the middle of the box. Audrey Lavey '23 got under it, but her header floated just over the crossbar to keep the game in a scoreless tie. Messiah had a great chance in the 63^rd minute, executing a give and go that resulted in a shot from just inside the right side of the box that hit the crossbar before heading out of bounds.

The Falcons kept applying pressure throughout the second half eventually leading to their best chance of the day in the 71^st minute. Brianna Siep was challenged in the box by Ollie who nearly knocked the ball away before getting her foot tangled with Siep and took her down to the ground. Messiah had Korinne Kovatch take the penalty kick, beating Hammond and breaking the scoreless tie. Wesleyan had a few nice crosses but were held without a shot over the final 19 minutes, losing 1-0.

Wesleyan finished the game with five shots to Messiah's 10. Wesleyan had the edge in corners 4-3, while the fouls were pretty even at 7 to 10. Hammond made three saves for the Cardinals, while Wesleyan was not able to record a shot on goal against Ava Wert.

Wesleyan ends the season 8-6-6, making the NCAA Tournament Second Round for the 2^nd consecutive year. The Cardinals have now won five of seven NCAA Tournament games in their history.