Falcons senior Billie Jo Atkins scored the lone goal off an acrobatic assist from Rachel Horning -- the freshman midfielder did a front handspring/somersault move that helped her propel the ball 35 yards to the six-yard box. Atkins then scored her fourth goal of the season for Messiah.

Horning's impressive athletics were not new -- to her or to the Falcons' playbook.

"I've been doing that throw since I was 9 years old," she said. "If I just started to try the somersault now, I'd probably break my neck."

Head coach Scott Frey said his team had taken advantage of Horning's acrobatic talents.

"We've scored on that play about four times this year. It's a dangerous and exciting play because she has the ability to put it in front of the goal," he said.

The College of New Jersey was playing for its fourth national championship. The Lions finished as runner-up for the third time. The Falcons finished second in 2002.

The two teams were closely matched in shots for the game -- Messiah managed 10 while the Lions put up eight. Falcons goalkeeper Cassie Grose tallied five saves while her counterpart for the Lions, Alissa Kacar, had two.

Messiah's Kacie Klynstra was named the tournament's most outstanding player for her defensive work. Klynstra held the Lions' three-time all-American Brittny Boyd without a shot. The Falcons' defense did not allow a goal in the semifinals against Chicago or in the championship game.

Joining Klynstra on the all-tournament team were teammates Sarah Hibschman and Savannah Stolzenburg and three players from The College of New Jersey: Dana DiBruno, Courtney Krol and Jamie Kunkel.

Lions Coach Joe Russo was proud of his team, particularly Boyd and Kacar.

"My hats are off to Messiah. They were well-coached and well-prepared," he said. "I am very proud of my team, especially ... (Kacar and Boyd). They are the heart and soul of this team. This is a very dynamic group. I could not be prouder of these kids."

The game was played before a crowd of 1,073, the fifth-largest audience for a Division III women's soccer title match.

Messiah faced a tough road to the championship game, playing two overtime games earlier in the tournament, including a dramatic sectional win over Trinity (Texas) that was decided by penalty kicks. Messiah finished the season 22-0-1, while the Lions ended the year 22-1. The College of New Jersey blanked Tufts in the other semifinal match to reach the championship game. The Lions have appeared in six championship games, last winning in 2000.

The Messiah men's soccer team also took home a championship trophy later in the day at MacPherson Stadium.

Sectionals

Messiah 3, Dickinson 1; Trinity (Tex.) 1, Lynchburg 0; Messiah 0, Trinity (Tex.) 0 (2 ot) (Messiah advances on penalty kicks, 5-4); Chicago 2, Wheaton (Ill.) 1; Puget Sound 0, Macalester 0 (2 ot) (Puget Sound advances on penalty kicks, 8-7); Chicago 1, Puget Sound 0 (ot); TCNJ 1, Stevens Institute 0; Denison 0, Otterbein 0 (2 ot) (Denison advances on penalty kicks, 4-3); TCNJ 2, Denison 1; Tufts 5, Wheaton (Mass.) 2; Oneonta St. 3, Rochester 0; Tufts 1, Oneonta St. 1 (2 ot) (Tufts advances on penalty kicks, 4-3).

Semifinals

First half: M -- Corrie Jones (Rachel Horning), 44:44.

Second half: C -- Monica Michelotti (unassisted), 57:27.

Overtime: M -- Cali Pitchel (unassisted), 97:41.

Shots: Messiah 17, Chicago 14. Goalkeeper saves: Messiah (Cassie Grose) 6, Chicago (Andrea Przybyss ) 4. Corner kicks: Messiah 4, Chicago 6.

First half: TCNJ-- Dana DiBruno (unassisted), 11:26; TCNJ -- Jamie Kunkel (DiBruno), 13:07.

Second half: TCNJ -- DiBruno (Kunkel), 72:45.

Shots: Tufts 9, TCNJ 21. Goalkeeper saves: Tufts (Annie Ross) 9, TCNJ (Alissa Kacar) 5. Corner kicks: Tufts 2, TCNJ 6.

Championship game

Second half: M -- Billie Jo Atkins (Rachel Horning), 69:22.

Shots: Messiah 10, TCNJ 8. Goalkeeper saves: Messiah (Cassie Grose) 5, TCNJ (Alissa Kacar) 2. Corner kicks: Messiah 2, TCNJ 2 .