Many sports fans fondly recall 2016 as the year when long-awaited championship droughts and "curses" were broken by teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Cubs. For Messiah University fans, a similar feeling of elation and relief resonates as the Falcons' field hockey team etched their name in history by clinching their first NCAA Division III National Championship in Geneva, New York, on November 20, 2016.
The victorious Messiah University Field Hockey team, 2016.
A Dramatic Championship Finale
The Falcons' title victory marked the end of a remarkable journey, overcoming eight national runner-up finishes dating back to 1984. The championship game itself was a spectacle to behold, with No. 1 Messiah facing off against No. 3 Tufts University in a finale that many consider to be one of the most thrilling in Division III history.
In the face of freezing temperatures, strong winds, and even snow, the Falcons and Jumbos battled relentlessly. The regulation period ended with a 0-0 score, and the teams continued to fight through 30 minutes of scoreless overtime.
“The entire performance, from start to finish, was truly special,” said Messiah Head Coach Brooke Good. “All season long we were intentional to build confidence and mental toughness, and to focus on the ‘controllables’ in any given game.
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Breaking the Runner-Up Curse
The championship victory closed the book on a history full of title game losses. Messiah’s eight runner-up finishes without a championship tied for the most by any NCAA men’s or women’s team, regardless of sport, with UC San Diego women’s swimming.
It’s significant to be the first team to win,” said Good on the team’s achievement. “To be the first team to earn the trophy, it’s certainly special. But the win is also for our entire program, and that includes so many student-athletes, coaches, support staff, and many others that pursued this achievement for so long.
NCAA Division III Logo.
Legacy
The 2016 National Championship victory is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and unwavering spirit of the Messiah University field hockey program. It serves as an inspiration to future generations of athletes and a reminder that perseverance and belief can overcome even the longest of droughts.
Here is a summary of Messiah University's journey to the championship:
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| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Before 2016 | 8 National Runner-Up Finishes |
| 2016 | NCAA Division III National Championship |
2016 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship
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