Troy Sauer's goal off a direct kick gave Messiah a 1-0 win over Otterbein and its second national title in three years November 30 at St. Lawrence.

Sauer blasted a direct kick from 20 yards around a three-man wall and into the net 18 minutes into the game.

Otterbein was whistled for a foul on the left side of the field, which led to the direct kick. Sauer, a senior, sent his shot to the right of the Otterbein wall, and it curled around the wall toward the near post. Otterbein goalkeeper Jeffrey Rust made a diving attempt at the ball but couldn't get to the shot near the post.

Messiah controlled the pace of play for most of the contest, holding Otterbein to just six shots, two of which were on goal. Falcons goalkeeper Dave Casper had to make just one save.

Mike Lochner, whose long throw-ins gave the Cardinals opportunities to score, set up Otterbein's best chance. Jason Manly headed one of Lochner's tosses toward the Messiah net, but the Falcons -- who were defending the throw like a corner kick -- had a player at the near post who blocked the shot with his shins then cleared the ball.

"Our hats go off to Messiah," said 14-year head coach Gerry D'Arcy. "Messiah played a technically sound game and put a lot of pressure on us. We played as hard as we possibly could, and I am proud of our guys for the effort they put into this game."

Messiah outshot the Cardinals, 18-6, and had five corner kicks -- two more than its opponent. Otterbein, which finished the season 23-3-1, advanced to its first national championship game with a 3-2 win over Trinity (Texas), while Messiah, 22-2-1 on the year, shut out host St. Lawrence, 3-0, in the semifinals. The Falcons have played in the NCAA semifinal round in each of the last three years, losing in 2001 before the title game.

Quarterfinals

Trinity (Tex.) 1, Macalester 0; Otterbein 2, Wheaton (Ill.) 1 (ot); Messiah 3, Drew 2 (ot); St. Lawrence 2, Arcadia 0.

Semifinals

Second half: M -- Haden Woodworth (Troy Sauer), 64:56; M -- Matt Bills (penalty kick), 79:03; M -- Matt Snavely, 81:50.

Shots: Messiah 17, St. Lawrence 8. Goalkeeper saves: Messiah (Dave Casper) 3, St. Lawrence (Dustin Crooker) 4. Corner kicks: Messiah 9, St. Lawrence 2. Fouls: Messiah 17, St. Lawrence 19. Attendance: 772.

First half: T -- Josh Card (Alex Woods), 14:42; O -- Angelo Manzo, 34:39.

Second half: O -- Manzo (Mike Lochner), 52:15; T -- Mike Marino (Woods), 65:58; O -- Adam Rothermel (Manzo), 80:08.

Shots: Otterbein 10, Trinity (Tex.) 17. Goalkeeper saves: Otterbein (Jeffrey Rust) 6, Trinity (Tex.) (Joshua Rosenblum) 3. Corner kicks: Otterbein 3, Trinity (Tex.) 11. Fouls: Otterbein 10, Trinity (Tex.) 15. Attendance: 215.

Championship

First half: M -- Troy Sauer (unassisted), 18:00.

Shots: Otterbein 6, Messiah 18. Goalkeeper saves: Otterbein (Jeffrey Rust) 3, Messiah (Dave Casper) 1. Corner kicks: Otterbein 3, Messiah 5. Fouls: Otterbein 12, Messiah 14. Attendance: 456.