The Albright College women's soccer team qualified for the Commonwealth Conference playoffs in thrilling fashion, scoring with under five minutes remaining against Widener to secure a spot. Now Albright heads to Messiah to take on the #1-ranked Falcons in a semifinal contest.

Last time vs. Messiah the Lions played a very defensive strategy and kept themselves in the game, trailing just 1-0 until the 73rd minute of an eventual 4-0 defeat.

Any team's best chance to keep itself in the game against a team that has won three national titles since 2005 is a strong goalkeeper, and Albright has that in senior Olivia Giuliano. A two-time All-Commonwealth selection, Giuliano has a GAA of 1.49 with three shutouts this season.

Albright also has a very experienced defense, which is invaluable in games like this. Seniors Lauren Panichelle and Meg Albright are four-year starters, and junior Kirstie Potteiger is a three-year starter. Sophomore centerback Mel Sullivan is the youngest of the group but has established herself as a defensive leader as well. This Lions' back four will need to be almost perfect tonight to hold off a dominant Messiah attack (24.6 shots and 4.3 goals per game).

Up top, leading scorer Jordan Cassidy (eight goals, five assists) is very good at holding the ball up, but will need other teammates to get forward and join her in order to be effective. Freshman Erin Hand (six goals, three assists) came on strong late in the season and drew a key penalty kick against Widener after beating their left back into the box.

To score, the Lions may need a bit of individual magic and they have some players capable of that. Sophomore Stephanie Przybyszewski has speed and elusiveness and caused problems for Widener in Albright's last game. Senior Katie Cooper has 13 career goals and also has the ability to get behind an opposing defense.

Albright's center midfielders were forced way back last time against Messiah but will also look to get the counterattack started tonight. Juniors Alee Gormley and Kim Harkins have each won a Commonwealth Player of the Week award this season while sophomore Jena Muller has seven assists, mostly off corner kicks- an area where Albright could be dangerous.

The Messiah Falcons have both impressive team speed and extensive depth, which allows them to eventually overwhelm teams. Senior Erin Hench (seven goals, 12 assists) is one of the all-time leading scorers in NCAA Division III history, although even she has taken a backseat in the goals department this season to junior Corinne Wulf (16 goals, five assists).

Other scoring threats include Alex Brandt (nine goals, six assists), freshman substitute Mackenzie Clapper (seven goals) and senior Lisa Wingard (11 assists).

The Falcons are tough defensively as well, conceeding only two goals all season (second-best in the nation). Senior goalkeeper Autumn Reilly has the experience of playing in two national championship games, winning one.

Messiah is 15-0-1 overall, with its only tie coming against the #2 team in the country, William Smith. Beating the nation's top-ranked team is certainly a tough task but not an impossible one, as evidenced by the #1-ranked St. Lawrence men falling yesterday in their semifinal to visiting Vassar College. Albright (8-3-5) has proven itself to be a very difficult team to beat this season, with two of its three losses coming to nationally-ranked teams.

The teams kick off at 5 PM, while Lebanon Valley hosts Alvernia in the other semifinal.