By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Kansas City, KS — For the third straight season, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Performance Subaru NCAA Division III National Player of the Year resides on Messiah women's soccer team, as senior
Amanda Naeher will be honored with the 2010 award Jan. 15th at the NSCAA Convention in Baltimore.
Naeher is the first player in the award's history to earn the nation's top individual honor twice, adding to her 2008 NSCAA/Adidas National Player of the Year trophy. She joins junior
Erin Hench as the only players in the program's history to be honored as the top player in the country, as Hench claimed the honor following last season.
“This is a great honor to be recognized with,” said
Scott Frey, Messiah head coach. “I think she would agree, that this is a reflection of the program and those around her for her to achieve this. It is a great honor for her and the program.”
If the player of the year honor weren't enough, Naeher and 2009 graduate Kacie Klynstra were also selected to the NCAA Division III 25-year Anniversary Team, a compilation of just 11 athletes who were selected as the best the sport has had to offer in its silver anniversary season.
Naeher was an all-tournament team selection in both 2010 and 2008, being named the tournament's most outstanding player in the 2009 NCAA Tournament. Klynstra, meanwhile, was named the tournament's most outstanding player in 2005 and its most outstanding defensive player in 2008, making the all-tournament team in 2007 as well.
“To be named two of the top 11 players to ever play NCAA Division III women's soccer ... it goes without saying that it's a tremendous accomplishment,” Frey said. “Both Amanda and Kacie are extremely deserving. Our program is better for having them as a part of it.”
For Naeher, the honors capped an incredibly dominant career, as the Falcons' attacking midfielder scored a nation-leading 32 goals in 2010, the second-highest mark in program history behind her 2008 performance of 33 goals. She also dished out 11 assists, making her season point total an astounding 74 points — 10 more points than anyone in Division III and one point more than her single-season record of 73 last season — a new program record.
Her career as a Falcon has been equally as jaw-dropping. The Seymour, Connecticut native scored 108 goals and assisted on 36 goals in her career. In Messiah's 7-0 win over 21st-ranked Widener University Oct. 16, Naeher scored her 100th career goal, becoming the 16th player in NCAA Division III history to reach the century mark. Currently, Naeher is eighth on the NCAA Division III all-time scoring list and tied for eighth on the all-time points list with 251.
Naeher was also tough in the clutch, scoring 29 game-winning goals in her career.
“What is exciting is to think that she came back for her extra season,” Frey said of Naeher, who had an extra year of eligibility after playing basketball, not soccer, as a freshman. “Sometimes, that decision goes your way, sometimes it doesn't. But to think that she had her best year out of her four years this season is great. It shows her continual progression, which has been exciting and fantastic for us. What else is special is her desire to make those around her better. Some players are good players, but Amanda is a great teammate as well. She worked hard on her own game while she made everyone else better at what they bring to this team. That is key for the best players. She has that.”
Naeher joined sophomore
Alex Brandt with NSCAA/Performance Subaru First Team All-America honors, the third straight such accolade for Naeher. In her first season — playing to Naeher's immediate right — the University of Central Florida transfer scored eight goals and was second on the team in assists with 13. But most notably, it was her technical ability and control of the ball that made Brandt a standout. Throughout the season, Brandt broke down defenses and made precision passes in the midfield.
“When you watch a game and see Alex, there is no doubt she catches your attention,” Frey said. “She has great technical ability. She can break teams' pressure all by herself. She has the ability to play balls some wouldn't try and her vision is special. With her being honored, it shows her skills and abilities, and we are excited to have that as a part of our continual development of the team.”
It was the fourth time in program history that Messiah boasted a pair of First Team All-Americans in the same season. Naeher shared the honor with Hench last season, and then-senior Klynstra in the 2008 season, while '08 grads Avie Fitzgerald and Stef Rowe each earned the honor in 2007.
“This was the best scenario for us,” Frey said. “With two players of their ability at the same position, playing beside each other, it takes team work special players to do that. You can call them, 'The sledgehammer and the surgeon.' Amanda is always around the goal. She plays with power. Alex is quick and technical. She can pick a team apart one by one with her passing and passion. Amanda can run off a played ball by Alex and go to work because she is powerful, strong and a presence in the box. It is a great comparison as they play similar areas but very different styles, yet they compliment each other so well. Both are very dynamic and are important to the team.”
With the duo together, the team boasted a 24-1 record, advancing to the NCAA Division III National Championship game for the fourth straight season, only coming up one goal short in a strong second half come back attempt in an eventual 2-1 loss Hardin-Simmons University.
In addition earning All-American honors, Naeher and Brandt each earned NSCAA/Performance Subaru First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors, as did defenders
Kelsey Gorman (junior) and
Katie Hoffsmith (senior). Junior
Leah Sipe was a second team all-region selection.
“Those three were very integral as the defensive performance of our group,” Frey said. “Everyone else too. Kelsey has been the cornerstone for our back four for three years now. Katie Hoff has speed and tenacity as a special spark in the back that can clean up things when we get into trouble. She is relentless. And Leah had a great year this year in the defensive midfield. They don't normally get a lot of love and recognition because they are doing the dirty work, but Leah did it really well. She wins balls and is a big presence for us in the midfield. She allows Amanda and Alex to do what they do.
“What is exciting is what is coming next for our team,” Frey continued. “We lose two very good players along with (seniors) Jo (Haqq) and Molly (Bletz), but this is part of the evolution of the team. We lose great players. We lost great players in the past like Kacie (Klynstra) and Avie (Fitzgerald), but what is great is the next step of evolution with the building around these types of players. That is the evolution that every team faces and we have some great players that can step in and do similar types of things. We have people like Corinne (Wulf) who is a dynamic player who can step in and do great things like she did this year. There are players on this team that can do the same given the opportunity and we look forward to that.”
Naeher shares her 2010 player of the year award with senior Geoff Pezon, who claimed the 2010 NSCAA/Performance Subaru NCAA Division III Men's National Player of the Year honor. It marks only the second time that the same institution has boasted both honors in the history of the award. Naeher was part of the other occasion, sharing the honor with 2008 graduate JD Binger following his senior season.
