The task is a daunting one, but Widener feels it is up to the challenge as it visits No. 9 Messiah on Saturday in its first Commonwealth Conference final.
Game time in Grantham, PA against the second-seeded Falcons is 7:30 pm and the winner gets an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Tickets are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for students and free those under age 6.
Fourth-seeded Widener (9-7-3, 3-3 CC) notched its first conference tournament win in school history with Tuesday's 1-0 upset at top-seeded Lebanon Valley in the semifinals. Junior Hamed Correa (Cali, Colombia) stood on his head with a career-best 11 saves and defender Chris Clifton (Philadelphia, PA) scored off a corner kick from fellow freshman Dan Lorenzet (Forest Hill, MD).
The Pride have enjoyed a resurgence with a 6-2 record in their last eight matches. That run includes two shutouts and two games in which they permitted only one goal.
Senior forward Bill James (Perkasie, PA) paces the squad with five goals as he and freshman Preston Dudley (Grasonville, MD) each are tied for ninth in the league with 12 points.
Correa has solidified his spot as goalkeeper, posting a 7-5 record. He is second in the league with an .802 save percentage and fifth with a 1.36 goals-against average.
Messiah punched its ticket with Tuesday's 2-1 win over Lycoming. Geoff Pezon leads the conference with 16 goals and 41 points.
These teams opened conference play October 4 with the Falcons notching a 1-0 triumph. Correa made nine saves, but Pezon scored in the 67th minute.
