GRANTHAM, PA – The Messiah women's soccer team is primed to begin the 2022 season on Thursday, Sept. 1 when they travel to Stevens Institute of Technology for their first game of the season.
The Falcons won their 18th conference championship last season, earning a 3-0 victory over York College (Pa.) to give them a berth in the NCAA Tournament. They bested Virginia Wesleyan 1-0 in the First Round with a 96th minute golden goal from
Kenzie Spodnik but then fell to TCNJ 2-1 in the Second Round.
The Falcons home-opener is slated for Saturday, Sept. 3, when they host Mary Washington at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field. The Falcons earned all eight first place votes in the MAC Commonwealth Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Roster
The Falcons return seven conference honorees this season, including graduate student
Kayla Herr and seniors
Brianna Seip,
Kenzie Spodnik,
Shelby Burger and
Rachael Tirjan. Junior
Jenna Skurcenski and Sophomore
Kristina Akselsen round out the seven award winners who are ready to make another NCAA Tournament run. There are five returning from each class from freshman to junior who will look for on field action this season as well.
Head Coach
Scott Frey will return for his 23rd season on the sidelines for the Falcons. Frey won Coach of the Year last year in the MAC Commonwealth and will look to lead the team once again. Joining him on his staff are
Todd Balsbaugh,
Holly Hoy, Elisa Warren, and
Brooke Thomas.
Schedule
As mentioned, the Falcons will open up the season on the road against Stevens Institute of Technology but return for their first home game against Mary Washington on Sept. 3. Eight non-conference matchups await the Falcons through September with Johns Hopkins (9/7), William Smith (9/10), McDaniel (9/14), Wilkes (9/17), Rutgers-Camden (9/21), Misericordia (9/24), Dickinson (9/28) and Salisbury (10/1).
The conference slate opens with a home game vs. Stevenson at Shoemaker Field in Grantham, Pa on October 4, at 7:00 PM. An away game at Alvernia is followed by two home games against York College (Pa) and Eastern. Three of the last four matches are away for the Falcons in last October, with Albright being their last home game of the season on October 22. The season wraps up with an away game at Widener on October 29.
Follow along with the Falcons on gomessiah.com!
