Grantham, PA — As the remains of Tropical Storm Hanna doused Shoemaker Field for hours on end Saturday, the second-ranked Messiah College women's soccer team seemed indifferent to its surroundings.
Junior Amanda Naeher led a trio of multiple-goal scorers in a 7-0 win over visiting Centenary College, browbeating the statistics with a 39-0 advantage in total shots while playing precise — albeit wet — soccer.
It was all taken in by just over 100 spectators, as the rain continued to intensify as the game wore on.
“Soccer's a bit different when you're playing in conditions like we had today,” said Scott Frey, Messiah head coach. “Regardless of the weather, our focus going into today was better defense. I don't think we've been as tight as we've needed to be. Today, I thought our backs did a great job of getting balls to others' feet right away, our forwards pressured and we won balls out of the air. If we defend well we're going to get our (scoring) opportunities because we have so many weapons. For me, if we can create multiple opportunities from our defense, that's when we're most dangerous.”
It appeared as if it was only a matter of time before Messiah (4-0) began its scoring onslaught against the Lady Cyclones (0-2-1), as the Falcons kept play in its offensive third of pitch constantly. The floodgates finally opened at the 14:45 mark, when a Centenary handball was called just outside the 18-yard box. Naeher took the free kick and placed the ball just above the reach of Centenary keeper Ashley Denti, giving her team a 1-0 lead.
Less than three minutes later it was sophomore Joanna Haqq's turn to get into the action, as the crafty forward picked up a loose ball on the right side of the box and weaved her way into an open space before firing a blast to the near-side upper 90 at the 17:33 mark.
Perhaps not satisfied, Haqq was on the spot again with 25:56 to play in the half, this time redirecting a corner kick from sophomore Molly Bletz. Bletz sent a beautiful, curving ball into the goal mouth that was just missed by a streaking Erin Hench (sophomore), and Haqq was able to guide the ball in at the back post to make the score 3-0.
“Jo(anna)'s just playing better and better for us,” Frey said. “Her confidence is coming back, and she's looking like the Jo of old.”
As Frey began to substitute liberally, a variety of near-misses on the Lady Cyclones' goal kept the tally at 3-0 through the intermission. That changed dramatically at the outset of the second half, however, as Naeher tacked on two more in the span of 1:05. A cross from Haqq helped Naeher to a poised score just 3:11 into the period, while a feed from Hench helped Naeher complete her first collegiate hat trick at the 49:16 marker.
With the game decided and the rain coming down even harder, junior Amy Horst turned a six-minute stretch into her personal playground, heading in a putback at 49:38 and blasting a 25-yard rocket at 55:30 for her first goals of the season.
Messiah attempted 11 corner kicks for the game, continuing to make aggressive runs until the final horn sounded.
“Overall, it was a good effort for us today,” Frey said. “We're continuing to improve, and that's really all we're looking for. Our younger players are trying to do the things we're looking for. We've got a tough test upcoming, and that should be good for us.”
Messiah will next travel to Johns Hopkins University for a match-up with the 20th-ranked Blue Jays Wednesday. It's the first meeting between the clubs since the 2002 season. Match time is set for 7 p.m.
