GRANTHAM, Pa. – With Fall 2021 competition right around the corner, three Messiah sports teams cracked annual Preseason National Rankings. The women's soccer team, who will be defending NCAA DIII National Champions this season, were selected as the top-ranked team entering the season, while men's soccer was tabbed as the ninth-ranked team and field hockey the eighth-ranked team.
Messiah men's and women's soccer, along with field hockey,
were all selected as conference favorites in the MAC Commonwealth Coaches' Preseason Polls. In addition to entering the 2021 competition as favorites, all three teams will be defending MAC Commonwealth titles from the 2019 season, the last full season of play.
Women's Soccer
As defending National Champions, the Messiah women's soccer team will begin its season on the road, squaring off with Stevens Institute of Technology this Wednesday, September 1 at 7:00 p.m. The Falcons home-opener is against William Smith on Saturday, September 4, clashing with the same side that they topped in the 2019 National Championship Game. The Herons placed second in the Preseason Rankings, further adding drama and anticipation to the early-season matchup.
Messiah, in addition to defending its sixth National Championship, is looking to claim its 18th MAC Commonwealth Championship. Head coach
Scott Frey returns to the sideline for his 22nd season, sporting an overall record of 421-24-29.
2021 United Soccer Coaches Top 10 – National – Preseason Poll
1 –
Messiah
2 – William Smith
3 – Pomona-Pitzer
4 – Washington University (Mo.)
5 – Carnegie Mellon
6 – Johns Hopkins
7 – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
8 – Wheaton College (Ill.)
9 – The College of New Jersey
10 – Amherst College
Men's Soccer
Finishing the 2019 campaign with an overall record of 18-3-2 and claiming its 18th MAC Commonwealth Championship in program history, Messiah men's soccer enters the 2021 season as a top-10 mention in the National Preseason Rankings. As the ninth-ranked team in the nation, the Falcons will begin their 2021 season on the road at PSU-Harrisburg on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. This Saturday will mark Messiah's first home competition as they take on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor under the lights at Shoemaker Field (7:00 p.m.).
The Falcons return an abundance of experience and leadership ahead of the 2021 campaign, while welcoming a group of young talent who will be eager to make contributions on the field. Head coach
Brad McCarty returns to the helm of Messiah men's soccer for his 13th season guiding the Falcons.
2021 United Soccer Coaches Top 10 – National – Preseason Poll
1 – Tufts
2 – Amherst
3 – Calvin
4 – Centre
5 – Luther
6 – Connecticut
7 – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
8 – Montclair State
9 –
Messiah
10 – Kenyon
Field Hockey
Messiah field hockey is coming off another successful season from 2019, finishing with an overall record 17-5, securing its 13-th consecutive MAC Commonwealth Championship. The Falcons enter 2021 with aspirations of continuing their success in MAC competition, having won every conference regular season game since the 2014 campaign. Messiah is returning a strong core of players, including three All-MAC selections from the 2019 season. With rain imminent for Wednesday's (9/1) scheduled season-opener at Dickinson College, the game has been pushed back to Thursday, September 2, at 4:30 p.m. The Falcons make their homecoming this Saturday, September 4, when they clash with the University of Mary Washington at 1:00 p.m.
2021 National Field Hockey Coaches Association Top 10 - Preseason Poll
1 - Middlebury
2- Franklin & Marshall
3 - Johns Hopkins
4 - Tufts
5 - Salisbury
6 - The College of New Jersey
7 - Bowdoin
8 -
Messiah
9 - Rowan
10 - Kean
