Grantham, PA — After being tested in the early goings of its first two games of the season, the Messiah College women's soccer team took care of business early and often Wednesday night, handing visiting Wilkes University a 9-0 defeat at Shoemaker Field.
It was the most goals scored by a Messiah team since an 11-0 win over St. Vincent College on Sept. 26 of last season.
“We continue to get good chances based on what we train and work on every day,” said Scott Frey, Messiah head coach. “For the team to see the results of our training and system of play is the biggest thing for us. We're just trying to get better every game.”
It was clear — on this night, anyway — that ideal came to fruition. The Falcons — ranked second in the nation for the second straight week in the NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 Poll — dominated from start to finish, a routine somewhat different than Friday's 4-1 win over Eastern Mennonite University and Saturday's 5-1 win over the University of Rochester. In those two games Messiah (3-0) was forced to come back from tie scores and a one-goal deficit.
Facing a Wilkes team that started eight freshmen, there would be no deficit to overcome Wednesday night.
Senior Rachel Horning started the onslaught just 7:16 into play, receiving the ball on the right side from sophomore Erin Hench before cutting it back to the left and beating the Colonels' keeper to the near post. It would be the first of a three-goal night for Horning, her first collegiate hat trick.
“Rachel has been really good for us lately,” Frey said. “She's confident, she's striking the ball well. Tonight was just a byproduct of how well she's been playing.”
Frey's team continued its methodical scoring less than six minutes later, as junior Amanda Naeher scored what arguably was the prettiest goal of the night at the half's 12:58 mark. Receiving a ball from senior Kacie Klynstra on the back side, Naeher collected a one-hopper and lifted the ball over the outstretched arms of the Wilkes' keeper, narrowly avoiding a high-impact collision as the ball fluttered into the net.
From that point on, Wilkes (1-2) simply could not stop the bleeding. Horning cashed in on her second goal at the first half's 26:27 mark, shrieking a left-footed blast from about 20 yards out that scorched the back of the net. Sophomore Joanna Haqq then scored back-to-back goals at the 29:15 and 38:58 marks of the first half, giving Messiah a 5-0 lead at the intermission.
As Frey asked for an even better defensive effort at the break, his team delivered. A dominant possession game resulted in four more scores, including two in the second period's first five minutes. Horning took a beautiful cross from Hench before putting her left foot on it for the first score of the period, while Naeher tallied an unassisted marker just moments later.
Hench finally broke into the scoring act with 36:15 to play, while freshman Lisa Wingard finished things off at the 79:27 mark with a goal courtesy of a Rachel Loya (freshman) assist.
“I thought we played much better defensively in the second half,” Frey said. “I thought Wilkes played very well and had some good counters on us early, they connected some balls together and had us stretched up front at times. But our effort was good and we really tightened things up as the game went on.”
Messiah attempted nine corner kicks to Wilkes' singular effort, while senior Brindley Beckwith was credited with two saves in goal.
“It was good to get Jo(anna Haqq) on the board,” Frey said. “She's a creative player, and for her to get involved was good to see. I also thought that Sarah Henningsen was really good for us off the bench. She did a really good job at center back during the second half, winning balls and controlling that part of the field for us.”
Messiah will conclude its season-opening, four-game home stand Saturday afternoon, when the squad will host Centenary College. Game time is set for 1 p.m. at Shoemaker Field.
