By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Grantham, PA — At first glance, it appeared Wednesday night's match up between York College and Messiah would have been a high energy, 90-minute battle. It seemed like the visiting Spartans would have had the Falcons on their heels coming off a goal within the first five minutes of the game.
But things are not always what they seem to be.
Messiah — ranked atop the NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 and second in the D3Soccer.com Top 25 for the week — would shake off a rusty start and counter a highly energized York side with a single-game season-high seven goals to top the Spartans 7-1 on a cold night at Shoemaker Field. It was Messiah's seventh win over York in the past six seasons.
For a game so staunchly entrenched in Messiah blue, however, it was York's green that stood out first.
Energy in the midfield was the difference early on for the Spartans, as junior Steph Mergler — leader in both assists and shots for the Spartans — carried the ball deep into the attacking third and created a corner kick for her team three minutes into the game. Her ensuing kick found the head of freshman Kat Sipes, whose header somehow made its way through a packed box, off the post, and into the goal.
Trailing for only the second time this season, the Falcons would do what they do best.
Score goals.
Did they ever tonight.
The onslaught of seven goals scored by five players showed that it is hard to put Messiah (9-0-1) down — even after obtaining an early lead. The Falcons' push started five minutes after York's tally, as senior Amy Horst found junior Erin Hench with a perfectly timed ball that just beat a Spartans back line that caught Messiah for five offsides calls on the night. Hench carried the ball down the left side of the field and placed a low shot that sneaked past York sophomore keeper Sarah Spanarkel to the far post, knotting the score 1-1 at the 8:18 mark.
Just a minute later, Hench found senior Amanda Naeher for the first of her three goals of the night — her sixth career hat trick. This time, Hench ran to the right wing and slotted a ball to the near post, as Naeher turned her hips and teed off on a low, near-post shot that Spanarkel could not handle. The scoring duo would meet again at the 18-minute mark as Hench played Naeher an early ball through the defense which allowed Naeher to take two dribbles and shoot a 14-yard missile to the net, pushing Messiah's lead to 3-1 with 27 minutes to play in the first half.
Naeher capped off her triad of scores before the first-half buzzer sounded, scoring another goal at the 28:33 mark. Junior defender Katie Hoffsmith served up the assist, making a run from the back and playing Naeher, who blasted an identical shot as her first goal.
Sophomore Oliva Scott would join the score-fest with a deep and beautiful shot just a minute later, giving Messiah a commanding 5-1 lead at just the 29:36 mark. Classmate Jessica Shirk took control of the ball from the Spartan back line and played a square ball to a streaking Scott, who was 25 yards out. Scott's shot seemed to be sailing high at first, but then dipped late and kissed off the cross bar for her fourth goal of the year.
When the smoke finally cleared, the first half had produced 15 shots for the Falcons, 10 of which were on goal. Head coach Scott Frey said that he is always pleased with goals that come off great production.
“When we take time, are patient and switch fields, we create seams in any defense that allows our wings, forwards and midfielders to make runs and work in open space,” Frey said. “Tonight we did that. We used our speed up top to connect our chances and it worked.”
Frey's club would remain productive in the second half, as sophomore Leah Sipe scored a brilliant goal 20 minutes in, demonstrating skill and focus. Freshman Corrine Wulf played Sipe a ball just outside the six-yard box that seemed to be too high, but Sipe chested the ball down to her right foot and connected on a rip that pounded the back of the net from eight yards out.
Sipe's self-volley drew oohs from the crowd of 311, causing Frey to smile and say, “that was a good hit” afterward.
Freshman Tannia Nieto finalized the scoring with her first collegiate goal at the 88:28 mark, as the midfielder trapped a high bouncing ball from Sipe off the wing and connected to ice things in memorable fashion.
A few late pushes from York (7-2-1) were countered by the strength of the Messiah back line, holding the Spartans to just one more shot on the night, which was a long blast from just past midfield. The ball sailed toward goal, but junior backup keeper Shalisa Brubaker was there to make a jumping save to protect the impenetrable lead.
“I didn't expect the (offsides) trap as (York) has played us in the past with a deep sweeper,” Frey said. “The trap is tough to play against us especially with our speed and intelligence up top. Erin (Hench) played well tonight, which creates chances for everyone. I thought overall that our attack played fantastic.”
The Falcons look to keep up their quality performances Saturday night as they travel to Reading, Pa. to open Commonwealth Conference play at Albright College. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
