By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Grantham, PA — Saturday night at Shoemaker Field, Messiah fought the Law.
And Messiah won.
Freshman Alicia Frey and crowned MVP Leah Sipe led the Messiah charge against visiting Arcadia University and First Team All-Commonwealth Conference goalkeeper Jackie Law in Saturday's Commonwealth Conference Championship match, both scoring against a defensive minded squad en route to a 2-0 victory.
Messiah's 10th Commonwealth Championship in the last 11 years came with some apprehension, as Arcadia limited the Falcons to just four first-half shots and kept the 0-0 score through halftime.
With nearly nine Arcadia players in front of Law in goal, Messiah (19-0) had a tough time creating quality chances and opportunities to score, a thought that head coach Scott Frey said was a key factor in the opening minutes.
“It seemed obvious that it was going to be tough for us to score,” Frey said. “(Arcadia) put the pressure to us and challenged our offense. We had to have quality chances to have quality shots, and even then, they have a good keeper in goal that can stop good shots. We had to be precise in our chances.”
But the defensive-minded Knights did have the chance to score early — a would-be opportunity that may have completely changed the game's complexion.
In the seventh minute, Arcadia's Sarah Volk-Perez hit a hard shot from distance to the upper 90 left post, but junior Autumn Reilly made a brilliant jumping save to stop the well-struck ball, punching it over the crossbar.
“We don't ask Autumn to make that many saves,” Frey said. “But the ones she does save are fantastic. People always overlook her because she never sees that many shots, but she is a great asset to this team. Tonight showed her ability. If that goal goes in, the entire game is different.”
With Reilly defending the goal early and making another great play on the ensuing corner kick, Messiah felt a surge of confidence in the back, boosting the play in the attacking third for the Falcons.
But at half, the game proved to be closer than what some might have expected. The Knights and Falcons were at a draw on shots, tallying four apiece, but with Messiah showing their possession with seven corners in the half.
“We didn't change a whole lot at half,” Frey said. “Arcadia fought hard when they had the ball, but we kept forcing them back and back. We came out doing what we know to, but when there were 10 players behind the ball, it got tough for us. We had to get a rebound in the goal that would be a score.”
That chance came for Messiah in the 61st minute when sophomore Alex Brandt had unimaginable space around her. The first team all-league midfielder laced a ball to goal, but Law was there to make the timely save. But Law was unable to grab the shot and the ball deflected to senior Joanna Haqq and the winger hit home her fifth goal of the year.
But at second glance, the assistant referee raised his flag, calling Haqq offsides on the shot.
“I noticed that the back line stepped towards Alex when she shot,” Frey said on the play. “It was the right call, so we had to keep pressing.”
And it wasn't long for Frey to get the result he was looking for.
Just past the 61-minute mark, senior Amanda Naeher carried the ball in the 18-yard box. A timely tackle found Naeher on the ground in a scrum passing to freshman Alicia Frey, who was just inside the box. Frey quickly turned to goal and scored her 12th goal of the year.
There would be no overturning this goal, as Messiah had a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard.
Frey's goal seemed to propel things even further in favor of the Falcons.
Thirteen minutes later, Sipe would put the exclamation point on the game. Off a failed defensive clear out, Sipe brought the ball down to her feet, and with what seemed like miles of space in her foreground, the Ephrata, Pa. native charged into the attacking third, fighting off a charging defender on her hip and laced a ball to the lower left post. Law got a touch on the ball, but the shot was hit too hard, sneaking between Law and the post for Sipe's fifth goal of the season.
When the final horn sounded, Messiah had recorded 16 total shots on the game — 12 in the second half — and had nearly duplicated its effort at Arcadia (15-4-1) back on Oct. 9, a 3-1 Falcons' win with all goals being scored in the final 45 minutes.
When the game was over, it was an obvious choice for Frey on who to name tournament most valuable player.
“Of course it was Leah,” Frey said. “Leah wins every battle, she settles us, she finds open players perfectly, she changes the ball so well. She dictates the flow for us. She does the little things that make everyone around her better. She gives the offensive five confidence because she wins so many balls and she helps the defense relieve pressure.”
Now, Messiah looks towards Monday's NCAA Tournament selection show, as the team begins its pursuit of a third straight NCAA Division III National Championship.
“It is a continual process for us,” Frey said. “Now, we have to continue our mindset and our tempo.”
Check back to GoMessiah.com for all the latest news and information on the 2010 NCAA Division III National Championship tournament.
