By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Grantham, PA — When the Messiah College athletic administration decided to postpone the women's soccer game originally scheduled for its Centennial Homecoming weekend, they were most likely envisioning a perfect autumn night to host undefeated Commonwealth Conference opponent Arcadia University.
Little did they know that a week later, the rain would continue to fall on three of the four days leading into the anticipated match up.
Sadly, on Tuesday evening at Shoemaker Field, the rain would prolong its already unwelcomed visit.
Starting in a light downfall and slowing moving to a constant downpour, the rain transformed Shoemaker Field into a mud bath setting stage for a wet and messy battle. Arcadia (13-1-3, 5-1) was led by freshman goalie Jacki Law, whose mere presence formed the foundation of a defense that had only given up six goals on the year.
But Messiah's high scoring offense and strong defense could not be stopped by either force on this night, as the Falcons maintained the top seed in the conference with a 4-0 win over the Knights.
From the opening touch, Messiah (16-0-1, 6-0) controlled possession and seemed to own the flow of the game. And before the rain could truly make it's mark, junior Joanna Haqq quickly made hers. Senior Amanda Naeher played a deep cross from the left side of the field reaching the far side of the goal mouth at the 8:22 mark, and Haqq perfectly timed her run to meet the ball with grace and power and burying home the opening score, her sixth on the year.
But as time ticked away on the scoreboard, the field became a literal mess — seemingly evening out play between the Knights and Falcons. For a period of almost 15 minutes after Haqq's goal, Arcadia would apply pressure from the back and into the midfield, as both teams were getting a feel of how the game would need to be played. Messiah head coach Scott Frey said he was impressed by the way his midfielders handled the pressure.
“The midfielders worked really hard to win the balls and keep it together,” Frey said. “It is hard to get out and play possession but I thought Muss (senior Katlyn Musser) set the tone of how we were going to play tonight and Obes (sophomore Oliva Scott) did the same off the bench.”
With Musser controlling the midfield through worsening conditions and the Knights' pressure, Frey's team would keep their composure and string together back-to-back goals 25 seconds apart.
Haqq, in typical fashion, sped along the right side of the pitch. After a few crafty cuts, she ran along the end line and threaded the needle into sophomore Leah Sipe, who blasted a low shot to the near post, beating Law and the post at the 27:48 mark.
Substitutions were made and, almost in the blink of an eye, Messiah would post the third goal of the night. This time, it was crafted by sophomore winger Lisa Wingard. The swift winger again raced down the right side of the field and played a ball in to freshman Tannia Nieto, who overpowered defenders. The ensuing shot found its way, again, past the near post and Law for her fourth goal of the season at the 28:13 clip.
Despite the Falcons' bang-bang goals, the Knights played through the mess and would get chances to make their mark on the game. After a Messiah foul, Arcadia junior midfielder Katie O'Malley crushed a shot from 45 yards out on the left side of the field, forcing sophomore keeper Autumn Reilly to come off her line and play the ball through huddled opponents and defenders alike.
Frey said he liked what he saw from his starter.
“Autumn played great for us,” Frey said. “She really controlled the box for us which helped in a game like this. In a game with this kind of weather, you have to play sure and clean and she executed perfectly tonight. She didn't miss a hit; she came off her line at the perfect times. I was pleased with the way she played.”
Action did slow down, however, as the second-half rains became more constant and affected play to a greater magnitude. The first half produced 19 shots, 12 on goal, and six corners for the Falcons. The second half saw 15, six and three, respectfully.
Naeher and junior Erin Hench would connect at the 59th-minute mark to put the icing on the already waterlogged cake in the second half, the 10th goal from that combination on the year. Senior goal-scoring machine Carey Cortese would clear a ball out of the back line down the left side in the direction of classmate Amy Horst. Allowing the ball to bounce off a defender's head and land out of bounds on the attacking third for Messiah, Horst's throw in found little objection to landing at the feet of Hench. Hench then played into the middle of the field, carrying two defenders on her and playing a short pass to Naeher, who was streaking from behind for support.
The subsequent shot was a screamer, and the ball met the back of the potato sack for Naeher's team leading 20th goal of the year.
“It was tough to play under these conditions especially with such a good keeper at the other end of the field,” Frey said. “(Law) is a very good keeper and (Arcadia) is a very good team. You have to finish with a keeper like her. They weren't afraid to get up and pressure us, either. But tonight, we scored early and that always helps in what we try and do.”
Law finished the game with 13 saves, the highest amount of saves by an opposing keeper that Messiah has faced on the season.
With the win, however, Messiah — ranked atop the latest NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 and the D3soccer.com Top 25 — maintains the top seed in the Commonwealth Conference via its perfect 6-0 record. The Falcons will close out regular-season play at arch rival Elizabethtown College. That game is the opening leg of a men's-women's double-header at E'Town on Halloween Saturday. Women's game time is set for 4:30 p.m.
