Grantham, Pa. (Nov 5, 2016) - Top-seeded Messiah College (18-1) answered a second-half goal with a run of four straight in a 7-1 win over #2 Alvernia University (19-2) Saturday afternoon in the MAC Commonwealth Field Hockey Championship Final at Anderson Field.

The Falcons, ranked #1 in the nation, won their 10th consecutive MAC Commonwealth title and earned the league's automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III National Championships which begin this coming Wednesday.  Alvernia will await a potential at-large bid into the championships.  Those bids are scheduled to be released by the NCAA late Sunday evening.

Messiah, the only team to beat Alvernia this season, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half before the Crusaders got on the board when junior Andrea Wysocki hammered home her 16th of the season six minutes into the second half.

Messiah junior, and tournament MVP, Taylor Holt scored almost immediately off the ensuing restart then again three minutes later to give the Falcons a comfortable 5-1 advantage.

Messiah held a 24-7 advantage in shots and an 11-4 lead in penalty corners.

#1 Messiah 7, #2 Alvernia 1