Annville, PA — Coming into Tuesday afternoon's MAC Commonwealth match-up at Lebanon Valley College, the second-ranked Messiah women's soccer program boasted a 15-0-1 all-time record against the Dutchmen.
After just 18 minutes of play Tuesday, LVC's hopes of its first win in the series were all but dashed.
Messiah (13-0-2, 2-0) rang up scores at the 6:19, 14:42 and 18:17 marks to open a 3-0 gap over the host Dutchmen, never looking back in a 4-0 conference win. The victory was Messiah's fifth straight in shut-out fashion, holding LVC (8-4-2, 2-1) to just one shot while pummeling the Dutchmen cage for 27 attempts on the other end of the field.
It was a bitter pill for LVC, which entered the game having won six of its last seven contests, tying the other.
“It was important, as always, for us to start strong,” said Scott Frey, Messiah head coach. “If we can get one early, that's a big confidence booster for us and kind of takes the wind out of (our opponents') sails.”
It did not take long for Frey's club to do just that at Herbert Field, as an altered starting lineup up front paid dividends early. Making her first start of the season at the wing position, freshman Lisa Wingard recorded her fourth career assist just six minutes in, crossing a ball that found senior Rachel Horning streaking across the goal box. Horning took it back post for a score at the 6:18 moment, giving Messiah a 1-0 lead.
Junior Amanda Naeher made it a 2-0 score with 14:42 elapsed, scoring her team-leading 16th goal of the season by way of shake-n-bake, beating two defenders and LVC keeper Alyson Reitmeyer with a low shot.
When freshman Olivia Scott flew through the air to head in a serve from sophomore Molly Bletz with 18:17 gone, the Falcons led by a 3-0 score and were coasting.
Scott, also making her first collegiate start, was a force off the ground, nearly adding two more headed goals in addition to her first-half score. One attempt banged off the crossbar and another in the second half sailed just inches over the top of the frame.
“Olivia was very good for us,” Frey said. “Her goal was a really good one. She came in at an angle and beat the (LVC) keeper to the ball. She was very aggressive in the middle of the field.”
Leading by a 3-0 count at the break and possessing a 12-0 advantage in total shots, it would seemingly be only a matter of time before Messiah picked up its second conference win in as many attempts on the season. Naeher added to her goal total at the 56:29 mark, taking a nifty leave from sophomore Erin Hench and pounding a ball past newly inserted LVC keeper Stacy Ganley.
Messiah would allow one LVC attempt on its frame in the waning moments — freshman Autumn Reilly came up with the save on that effort — coasting to the 4-0 win with little resistance down the stretch.
“I thought we played really well,” Frey said. “We did a good job of creating some chances, and I thought our wingers were very good. I thought our defense did a nice job in never allowing LVC to get anything going. (Freshman) Kelsey Gorman was good in the back for us, as was (junior) Carey Cortese and (sophomore) Katie Hoffsmith. It was a good result for us and a good league win.”
Messiah will stick with league play next, as the squad will host Lycoming College during the school's Homecoming Weekend. Game time is set for 3 p.m. at Shoemaker Field Saturday.
