Both Top 25 teams, with the Tartans ranked 15th and Messiah ranked 2nd in the SC Pre-Season Poll. Should be a good solid matchup in Grantham, PA. Messiah has all of last years starting 11 back, including PoY Kristina Ackselson.

And looks like CMU is going to take the fight to Messiah. Being aggressive going forward and pressing all over the field.

Messiah is slowly gaining control of the ball as they always do. Forcing CMU back into their half. But CMU is not defending foolishly getting numbers behind and on the ball. I think with a lesser team this is suffocating.

CMU is going to make Messiah work hard for a goal.

CMU is not finding success in connecting in the final third. Messiah is real efficient at winning the ball and then have the composure to keep it and resent out of the back. 30 in and neither team has found the gaps. Just a great, great tactical battle going on right now.

Messiah has the better of the play, but opportunities are few and far between.

Halftime. 0-0

Unless there is a dramatic change, I could see this playing out as a tie. Neither team allows themselves to let mistakes hurt them.

In this second, it looks like Messiah is trying to move the ball quicker, and not anyone player getting caught taking too many touches. I think CMU is comfortable with how things are developing and happy to keep it going. CMU is still looking for quick breaks forward, but definitely not finding success there. Messiah's backline is just too good.

Will say this, the sets of center backs, primarily led by Jenna Skurcenski for Messiah and Maya Gunning for Carnegie Mellon, could be the best center backs in the country. There I said it.

With 12 minutes left, CMU is trying to press forward and maybe snatch a quick. Messiah looks to have tired a bit. Nonetheless, they are still going forward looking for that one brake.

This game is over. 0-0. Not sure either team is pleased, but can't say either team feels like they left it get away from them. This was a game between two very good teams. My opinion of Messiah as #2 has not changed, but think CMU may be more deserving of a 15 rank.

Plenty of games left.

SC.