Box Score
By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Annville, PA — Messiah continued its superior run of play on the 2010 season Tuesday afternoon, as the Falcons threw their 14th shutout of the season in an 8-0 victory over conference opponent Lebanon Valley College.
Messiah (16-0, 6-0) scored twice in the first 10 minutes of play, and never looked back. Senior Amanda Naeher and sophomore Corinne Wulf scored at the 6:00 and 9:55 marks, respectively, assisting one another as the two lead the team in points with a combined 99 total.
But Messiah head coach Scott Frey said that the performance in the first half was met by a competitive LVC side that kept applying pressure in the midfield.
“I thought we played okay today, especially in the first half,” Frey said. “We made some mistakes and (LVC) is a very competitive team. They hung in (after the first two goals) and made it hard for us. When we turned the ball over, they looked to counter and did it well with pace up front. They defended hard as well. They are a good team and it was a good win for us.”
When things got relatively tough for the Falcons, Frey said that he relied on one of the basic tenets that he preaches to his squad: Defense. Messiah currently ranks number one among all NCAA Division III teams in goals allowed average, giving up an astounding 0.12 goals per game.
“Before the game I told the girls, 'we have to get back and defend and then look to attack when we get the ball,'” Frey said. “Anyone will have energy when you are on offense, but I ask our girls to play well on defense and play with energy that way. I think that is where our success comes from. We play out of the back to the flanks and in the midfield. When you work hard on D, it gives you energy and you get into the game.”
And to see that mentality come to fruition, Frey needed to look no further than junior Lisa Wingard and the rest of the wingers on the team.
In the first half, Wingard scored her third goal of the season in the 24th minute, capping the offensive output to the first period for the Falcons for a 3-0 lead. But Wingard was not done for the day, as she tacked on two great finishing efforts in the 80th and 88th minutes, tallying her first collegiate hat trick.
“The last two, everyone else did the work,” Wingard said. “I just finished.”
It was a testament to the team mentality poured out by this squad not just at Herbert Field Tuesday, but all season long.
“Our wings played so well,” Frey said. “They were able to get behind the defense all game and they played in some great balls into the middle. All four of them (Wingard, senior Joanna Haqq, junior Jessica Shirk and freshman Emily Schneider) continue to play well for us and if things can't happen on the wing, we are so strong in the midfield, we can play direct as well.”
The Falcons' solid midfield play evident through the offensive powers of Naeher and sophomore Alex Brandt. Naeher scored her team leading 27th goal in the 50th minute off a corner kick and Brandt tacked on her seventh goal of the year via a great individual effort.
Just inside the 61st minute, Brandt entered the attacking third with possession at her feet. She cut and dodged an LVC defender from 25 yards out, then took another touch into the created space. Brandt's ensuing shot was a hard hit, 18-yard rip to the upper near post.
When all was said and done — a 28-5 Falcons' advantage in total shots and an 11-0 disparity in corner kicks over Lebanon Valley (9-7-2, 2-3-1) — Messiah clinched the top spot in the upcoming Commonwealth Conference Tournament, securing home field advantage throughout.
“We are playing well right now,” Frey said. “We are playing with confidence. I think this team can do really well, we just have to play with discipline and make the right choices.”
The Falcons will look to continue their sound decision making Saturday on Shoemaker Field, as Messiah closes out regular-season play against its league nemesis, Elizabethtown College.
Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
