GRANTHAM, Pa. - Eastern Women's Soccer put forth a valiant effort against No. 5 ranked and No. 1 seeded Messiah University on Tuesday night, but its season came to an end with a 3-0 loss in the 2023 MAC Commonwealth Tournament Semifinals at Shoemaker Field. First-year goalkeeper Faith Leake and the Eagles' defense stood tall throughout the course of the match, but the high-powered Falcons' offense proved to be the difference.

Messiah (16-2, 7-0) dominated in both possession and field position, holding the Eagles in their defensive third for the majority of the match. The Falcons finished with 31 total shots, 14 of which were on target, to go along with nine corner kicks. The Eagles, conversely, recorded just one shot and one corner. 

Despite the final score, Leake recorded another strong performance between the pipes for the Eagles. The Philadelphia native finished the match with 11 saves, the second-highest total of her career, many of which were high quality against a relentless Messiah attack. In 13 matches this season, including 10 starts, Leake collected 79 saves, three wins, and a pair of shutouts. 

Eastern did its best to contain Messiah in the early stages of the contest, but the Falcons broke the scoreless tie in the 24th minute on Hannah Adair's ninth goal of the season from just outside the penalty area. In the second half, Bella Touzeau and Mia Libby added goals in the 66th and 72nd minutes for extra insurance. Morgan Crake recorded Eastern's lone shot in the 87th minute, but the attempt sailed high. 

It was a successful season for Eastern Women's Soccer. With wins over Alvernia, Stevenson, and Albright, the Eagles clinched their first playoff berth since 2017 and their first since moving over to the MAC Commonwealth in 2021. Furthermore, the Eagles were the only team in the MAC Commonwealth to score against the Falcons in the regular season. Eastern finished the campaign with a 4-7-6 record and a 3-2-2 mark in conference play.