NSCAA All-Region Teams |
Messiah's All-Time Mid-Atlantic All-Region HonorsKansas City, KS - Messiah College women's soccer players
Nikki Elsaesser,
Macaulay Soto,
Marisa Weaver, and
Audra Larson were honored by the NSCAA this week, as each was named All Mid-Atlantic Region. This marks the ninth-straight season Messiah has garnered at least four All-Region selections.
Both Elsaesser and Soto were named to the First Team, with Weaver and Larson named Second Team and Third Team, respectively. Elsaesser and Soto are also repeat honorees, while Weaver and Larson were awarded for the first time in their careers. Larson is also the first goalkeeper to be recognized from Messiah since Brindley Beckwith in 2007.
Elsaesser led the Falcons with a career-high 23 goals, and she was also in the lead with a career-high-tying 11 assists. Six of her goals were game-winners, and for the second-straight season Elsaesser was named the Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year.
Soto was named the Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year after playing as on the top center midfielders in the nation. She tallied three goals and seven assists, and played a pivotal role in helping the Falcons command both sides of the ball.
For Weaver, the honor came after a breakout season in which she set career-best marks in goals (17), assists (10), points (44), and game-winners (7). Two of her team-leading game-winning goals came in the NCAA postseason.
Larson's nod to the All-Region Third Team comes after she set a new Division III soccer record with 56 career shutouts. She is just three shutouts away from tying the all-time NCAA men's and women's soccer record which is currently held by Division II women's soccer player Chelsea Parise '13 (Grand Valley St.). This season Larson carried a 0.28 goals against average and a 0.863 save percentage, marks good enough for fourth and 35th in the nation, respectively.
The Falcons completed the 2014 season with a 22-0-3 record and qualified for their 15th-straight NCAA Tournament. They advanced to the Elite 8 where they fell to Lynchburg in penalty kicks.
