Box Score
By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Denison, OH — It doesn't seem to matter where they play or how far they travel — the Falcons continue to score and defend like none other.
Messiah kept its unblemished record in tact Saturday at Denison University, turning a six-hour trip into a 4-0 win, the team's seventh shut out victory of the season.
Denison (5-3-2) stepped on the field with a well-balanced and organized team, with great speed up top and great talent in the midfield. The Big Red pressured the Messiah defense all day long, but again the Falcons' backfield came up stout.
“They had some good chances early on,” Messiah head coach
Scott Frey said. “They had some dangerous players and made some great plays to test us in the back. But I felt like our back four countered their pressure with great plays and strong stops. When we turned the ball over, they stopped any counters.”
And when the defense stopped the Big Red counters, Messiah started its own.
Off a Falcons' clear just over 18 minutes in, possession was gained by sophomore
Corinne Wulf, who dribbled down the right side of the field. When she saw an opening, she played an early ball to senior
Amanda Naeher who was sprinting to keep up with the speedy winger.
Naeher received possession, and beat both a defender and the keeper to the far post at the for Messiah's first goal and Naeher's 14th on the year.
It would not be her last on the afternoon.
“I thought things were even at the half,” Frey said, commenting on the equal ratio of shots and corners for both teams — at nine and two respectively. “They came at us with pressure, and we stopped their chances well and we just finished on one of our chances.”
The second half was a little different.
Messiah (8-0) intensified its speed of play, connected on its passes, and dominated possession — all coming with results on the scoreboard.
Sophomore
Alex Brandt beat two defenders down to the end line and served a cross into the box where senior Joanna Haqq volleyed in her third goal of the year at the 54:47 mark.
But in Frey's eyes, Haqq's goal was a small result compared to her overall play on the field.
“Jo played really dynamic soccer the entire game,” Frey said. “She sees everything and gets the ball to the right people at the right time. She played great balls to people's feet, great balls that lead people to be in good spots. She played fantastic.”
With the game nearly decided, Naeher left no doubt at the result. Her team leading 15th and 16th goals put final touch on the game; insurance goals that gave the Falcons' back line some appreciated — but unnecessary — wiggle room. Her second on the day came off a diagonal run where she received the ball from junior
Leah Sipe. As Naeher was running to get the ball, Denison goalkeeper Andrea Karl was charging towards Naeher to stop the ensuing shot.
But Naeher, a crafty veteran, chipped the goalie for an open net goal at the 62:53 mark.
The final goal was a perfect cross from Wulf from the right side that was played early to Naeher's feet and this time, Naeher's shot was quick to the far post with 3:14 left to play.
By game's end, Messiah out shot Denison by a 25-11 tally and outgained the Big Red on corners by an 8-3 margin.
“I thought we played really well all game long,” Frey said. “(Juniors) Leah (Sipe) and Olivia were great in the midfield. They switched fields so well and controlled the air so well. They were solid for us.”
Messiah — which looks to keep its number one ranking in this week's NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 and
D3soccer.com Top 25 polls — continues its travels with a contest at York College Tuesday and its Commonwealth Conference-opener Saturday at Lebanon Valley College.
Tuesday's game with the Spartans is set for 4 p.m.
