GRANTHAM, Pa. - The 2021 Messiah women's soccer season opener is just six weeks away. The defending National Champion Falcons will take the field in Hoboken, N.J. on Sept. 1 against Stevens with a roster that looks a little different from the one that claimed the NCAA Division III National Title in the fall of 2019, nearly two years ago. The Falcons will welcome six new members to the squad this fall along with five fresh faces from a season ago that have yet to see a regular season collegiate game, despite a full year of practice and a handful of exhibitions this past spring.
See below for a quick snapshot from each of the six incoming members of this year's class along with a few thoughts from head coach Scott Frey:
Kristina Akselsen, Wall, N.J. – Kristina attended Calvary Christian High School in Old Bridege, NJ while playing her club soccer with the PDA Shore Freedom. She was recognized to the New Jersey All-State Team in 2020. During her career at Calvary Christian she was a three time All-Conference and All-Division selection. She finished her high school career with 136 goals and 45 assists. Her PDA team were State Cup Finalists in 2018 and 2019.
Coach Frey – "Kristina is a very talented player with great skills. She has an engine in the mid-field and can both create and defend at a very high level. Her range of versatility will be very valuable being able to solidify the team's mid-field."
Manon Bada, Washington Twp., N.J. -
Manon is another New Jersey player who played her high school soccer at Washington Twp. High School. She was an All-Conference selection in 2019 and was named to the Courier-Post 2020 All-South Jersey 2
nd Team. Manon played her club soccer with Penn United Force.
Coach Frey – "Manon is a strong, physical player who is very sound technically as well. I see Manon being able to contribute in any position along the back four and even in the mid-field if necessary. "
Michaela Elliott, Hockessin, Del. - Michaela played for the Delaware Rush that won the State Cup Championship from 2014-1019. She played for Wilmington Christian High School while being Home School. Her freshman year at Wilmington was her only full season of play and she earned 1
st Team All-Conference and 2
nd Team All-State honors that spring.
Coach Frey – "Michaela is a very technical player with a high soccer IQ and play making ability. She has the abilities to contribute in our mid-field."
Emma Herrmann, Brewerton, N.Y. – Emma is from upstate New York where she attended Paul V. Moore High School and played for the Syracuse Developmental Academy club. Emma earned All-State recognition in 2018, 2019, and was named First Team All-State in 2020. The 2020 SCAC Player of the Year she finished her high school career with 91 goals and 24 assists.
Coach Frey – "Emma is a goal scorer. She has speed, skill, creativity, a desire to finish and the ability to create for herself if necessary around the net. I look forward to integrating what Emma brings to the game into our style of play here at Messiah."
Sarah Kopec, Kimberton, Pa. – Sarah attended Owen J. Roberts High School and played club soccer with FC Providence Lightning. OJR is one of the top programs in the Philadelphia area winning the PAC Championship in 2017, 2018 and 2020. Sarah was a forward and goal scorer in her freshman and sophomore years. She then moved into the mid-field in 2019 and 2020. She earned several All-Conference and All-Area honors in her career.
Coach Frey – "Sarah is an extremely versatile player who can play almost in any position on the field. Our initial vision for Sarah is to add to the central defending area on the field as either a holding mid-fielder or center back, but she has shown the abilities to be an attacking type player as well."
Bella Touzeau, Center Valley, Pa. – Bella plays her club soccer with PDA while attending Southern Lehigh High School. Bella played primarily as an outside back with her PDA team but was a central attacking player in high school. She finished her high school career with 37 goals and 36 assists. She earned 1
st Team All-Conference honors in 2019 and 2020.
Coach Frey – "Bella is a dynamic and athletic outside back who can get up and down the field. She fits well into our system of play and will add another talented player in that area of the field."
