Box Score
By Cody Swartz, GoMessiah.com reporter
Grantham, PA — Strong offense and overwhelming defense proved to be a constant theme at Anderson Field Wednesday night, as Messiah opened its 2010 campaign with a dominating, 5-0 triumph over visiting Juniata College.
Ranked second in the nation in the Kookaburra/NFHCA Division III Preseason Top 20 Poll, Messiah (1-0) controlled the ball and the outcome, scoring three first-half goals in a span of 5:34 en route to the shutout win.
The Falcons, who began last season with a 4-1 win over Juniata, have now won 28 consecutive regular-season games, dating back to September of 2008. This one, over the 16th-ranked Eagles, begins what head coach Jan Trapp hopes to be another highly successful season for her club.
“I was pleased with what I saw from the girls out there,” said Trapp, who begins her 39th year at the helm of the Messiah program. “I wanted to see them working together well and I think the more they played out there, the more they gelled.”
Strong defense controlled the game early before a barrage of goals gave Trapp's club a lead it would not relinquish. Senior Amber (Philpot) Good scored off a pass from classmate Julie Barton at the 12:20 mark for the first Falcons' goal of the season, setting off a surge of offense.
Freshman midfielder Brooke Sands followed with an unassisted goal of her own just 1:28 later and Barton, last year's NFHCA Division III National Player of the Year, scored a goal at the 17:54 mark to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead that would carry into halftime.
“We lost seven graduating seniors from last year's team, but we picked up some good freshmen,” Trapp said. “They're making a spark out there. We have such depth on the bench that we were able to wear (Juniata) out a bit.”
The Falcons didn't lose momentum in the second half, as senior Kourtney Ehly, a First-Team All-American last year, scored a goal off a pass from sophomore Kelly Martin just four minutes after the break.
Junior forward Kilee Rosenberry capped off the scoring for the evening, nailing a penalty stroke at the 55:36 mark for the Falcons' fifth tally.
“The fact that we got five goals from five different players really says a lot about the girls,” Trapp said. “I think team chemistry is coming along strong.”
Messiah dominated in shots (21-9) and penalty corners (11-5), while keeping Juniata off the scoreboard. Dating back to last year's regular season, it was Messiah's third consecutive shutout, extending the team's shutout streak to over 254 minutes of game time.
“We really didn't have a stand out player tonight,” said Brooke Good, Messiah assistant coach. “ It was a collective effort from the girls. We have been stressing basic fundamentals during their two weeks of practices leading up to this game, and I think the girls were very confident out there on the field.”
Freshman Kayleigh Stewart received the start in goal and played soundly, recording three saves in her first taste of collegiate play. Classmate Molly Gebroski took over after halftime and finished the game in goal to preserve the shutout — an impressive feat with just one Falcons' starter returning from last year's staunch backfield.
“Both goalkeepers inspired confidence out there on the field,” said Good, who works primarily with the team's defense. “We are confident in their abilities and blessed with the depth we have.”
The tasks only get tougher for Messiah, as the team will travel to third-ranked Ursinus College Friday night. The Falcons handed the Bears a 4-3 loss in last year's national semi-final contest, taking a 4-3 decision in the teams' second contest of the season as well.
“It's going to be a very, very good test for us early in the year, as it always is,” Good said.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. at the Bears' Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field.
