Box Score
By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Virginia Beach, VA — En route to the 2009 NCAA Division III National Championship last season, Messiah head coach
Scott Frey saw his squad pound the back of the goal 104 times.
Friday night at Virginia Wesleyan College's Foster Field, Christopher Newport University found out that the 2010 campaign looks to be as offensive as last year for the Falcons, as Messiah showed early what they still do well:
Score goals.
Senior Joanna Haqq scored just 56 seconds into the game and the rest was history, as the Falcons posted six more markers en route to a 7-0 shutout of the Captains.
Senior
Amanda Naeher played a lofty ball to Haqq, whose speed allowed her to drop behind the defense, and Haqq's one touch shot went to the far post, reminding some of Haqq's last goal, a game winning pseudo-cross in last year's national semi-final against The College of New Jersey.
Although there was early success Friday evening, Frey said that his team didn't play to potential early on.
“It was the first game,” said Frey post-game. “I know the team that we were tonight and I know the team that we can be. We played well but we weren't quite relaxed early on. I think that comes with playing more games, but as the game continued, we settled down and played the way we like to play.”
Frey said one of his main focus points lies in his back four defenders, a group that he said was solid.
“The back four have always been a strong spot on this team,” said Frey. “Today was not different. They didn't give away any scary chances. They didn't allow a corner. They were solid. We are pretty thin in the back right now, but they played well.”
With 20 minutes to go in the first half, freshman
Aly Platek — who started at center back — found herself 35 yards away from the net and decided to go for goal. With space in front of her, Platek laced the ball on a line that kissed the crossbar and found the net for the Falcon's fourth goal of the night. Frey said that he was shocked at the result.
“I don't think I could have done that,” Frey said, with a chuckle in his tone. “Right before she shot it, I was thinking to myself, 'Pass it Aly. Pass it.' I guess she saw something I didn't and made it work. She was confident, not just with that shot, but all game long and that is something I like to see.”
As possession created seams and space in the middle, the wings were freed, allowing opportunities to show the classic offense and fundamentals Frey instills on his teams.
Sophomore
Rachel Scheibeler scored her first goal in Messiah colors at the 37:40 mark, as the transfer student was a beneficiary of the Falcons' possession game. Off the right wing, classmate Steph Andrews turned and dished the ball to Scheinder who found the back of the net, capping a sensational first half.
With 15 shots, seven on goal and four corners, Messiah's first period proved to be the deciding factor against the Captains. The final 45 minutes were a clinic in possession for the Falcons, capped with goals scored by junior
Leah Sipe and freshman
Ali Rogers.
But don't be fooled by the great result. Frey believes his team still has room to grow.
“The biggest thing we have to improve on is speed,” Frey said. “I like the things we are doing, but the rate of play can increase to a level that we are normally accustomed to. We have to make decisions faster when the ball is at our feet. We can do it, and at times it showed tonight, but that is something we need to do from the beginning of the game.”
Growth comes with experience and Saturday's game verses host Virginia Wesleyan will be a chance to gain value in both. The Marlins have a strong tradition in playing good soccer, as the program advanced to the NCAA Tournament for a fifth consecutive time in '09.
“(Virginia Wesleyan is) a solid team,” Frey said. “ They are a team that can come to play and it will be a good final test to see where we are after this opening weekend.”
Messiah will take on the host Marlins at 7 p.m. Saturday night. Live Stats will be available.
