Grantham, PA — Leave it to Messiah head coach Jan Trapp to discard the notion that her team was in some type of real-life, Groundhog Day production Wednesday afternoon at Anderson Field.
True, Messiah — the nation's new top-ranked team in the latest STX/NFHCA Top 25 Poll — was facing Widener University for the second time in five days and, true, Wednesday's 7-0 win was eerily similar to Saturday's 5-0 decision at Widener, but things were different. According to Trapp.
“For one thing, Widener's surface is much different than ours,” Trapp said late Wednesday. “They have a bit longer turf at their place, which makes it a totally different game.”
And?
“I guess that's about all,” Trapp conceded.
Messiah (14-1) used a 31-3 difference in shots during its latest win over the Pride after outshooting Widener by a 24-0 difference in the regular-season finale Saturday. Wednesday's MAC Commonwealth Semi-Final had a bit more on the line, however, as Messiah earns an appearance in the league championship game this Saturday, where the Falcons and seventh-ranked Lebanon Valley College will clash once again.
“I was pleased with our effort tonight, and I was pretty happy with how early we got to get our subs in and the fact that we were able to do that in both halves,” Trapp said of Wednesday's victory. “For one thing, we were able to get our starters some rest for Saturday and for another, I just love to get everybody to play.”
Spreading the burn was no trouble against Widener (7-12), as Messiah pressured the Pride cage early and often. Junior Katie Love began the procession just 1:24 into action, dribbling down the left wing before launching a low blast to the far post for an unassisted score.
That tally led to one of the most interesting goals of the Falcons' season, as sophomore Kourtney Ehly carded an unassisted score at the 7:00 mark. Following a scrum in front of the Widener goal, the ball somehow popped up and banged off the crossbar, coming down in Ehly's vicinity before being slammed into the netting in a very soccer-esque moment.
Senior Nikki Bailey tacked on the Falcons' third goal at the 21:33 moment following a penalty corner serve from Ehly, and Messiah's halftime lead was 4-0 following a rocket from junior Elizabeth Ziegler just a minute and a half later.
“We've been working so hard on getting the kids to do it exactly right technique-wise,” Trapp said. “We told them before the game that now is the time to be sure we're climbing up the ladder and not down. We can't afford to move backwards, no matter our opponent or the score. This team is so responsive to anything we ask of them. I think they took what we were saying to heart tonight.”
Trapp's club finished the game in similar manner to which it began, tacking on another score just five minutes into the second half and spacing another pair of goals throughout the remaining 30 minutes. Bailey scored her second at the 40:48 mark on a solo effort, while Ehly took a cross-field feed from sophomore Lauren Tennis to notch her second marker of the night at the 51:25 mark.
When Messiah rang up three corner opportunities in the game's final minute and a half, the Falcons made the last one count, as junior Katrina Campbell took a slip from sophomore Lauren Voigt. Campbell's ensuing blast came in clock-stopped fashion, as Messiah earned the last of its 22 corners as regulation came to a close.
Widener was able to matriculate the ball to Messiah's end of the field on a handful of occasions, boasting two shots on goal — and two subsequent saves from junior keeper Ashley Mowery.
The win moves the top-seeded Falcons into Saturday's MAC Commonwealth Championship, as Messiah will host second-seeded Lebanon Valley (18-2) for an automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Messiah beat LVC by a 4-3 count Oct. 11, but the Dutchmen have since rattled off eight straight wins. Something will have to give, as the Falcons have rattled off 12 straight victories since its only defeat of the year to then-ranked ninth Rowan University way back on Sept. 13.
“(Lebanon Valley) has been playing well and they're a terrific team,” Trapp said. “Even tough they play on grass they're very good on turf. They have a very dangerous offense. We certainly will have our work cut out for us.”
Messiah will host LVC at Anderson Field Saturday. Game time is set for 2 p.m. Cost of admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students. Children under six years old are admitted free.
