GRANTHAM, Pa. – With the 2024 Messiah women's soccer season beginning on Friday, check out the season preview below.
2023 Season Recap
The Messiah women's soccer team had an impressive 2023 season with a 21-2-1 overall record with a 7-0 record in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons won their fifth-straight and 20th Conference Championship in program history with a 4-1 win over York. The Falcons advanced to the final four but fell to WashU in penalty kicks after a hard fought game.
Roster Outlook
The Falcons return all 11 starters from the 2023 season led by United Soccer Coaches' DIII National Player of the Year,
Kristina Akselsen.
Hannah Adair,
Brittany Laird,
Kaitlyn Laird, and
Kierstyn Fogle all return to the forward line for the Falcons after combining for 81 points last season. The midfield core of Akselsen,
Bella Touzeau,
Tahlia Lloyd, and
Mia Libby look to control the middle of the field once again during the 2024 season. The back line of
Jenna Skurcenski,
Thea Neimond,
Bailie Dull, and
Julia Martin all return after helping the Falcons allow only 11 goals last season.
Ava Wert also returns in goal for the Falcons after starting 20 games during the 2023 season. The Falcons also add eight new players to the 2024 roster that will add depth to the roster.
2024 Schedule Preview
The Falcons open the 2024 season at home against No. 19 Carnegie Mellon on Aug. 30, at 7:00 p.m. The Falcons play nine games at Shoemaker Field this season, including a rematch of the 2023 MAC Commonwealth Championship against York on Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. The Falcons play five teams during the season that are ranked or received votes from the United Soccer Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll, with before mentioned Carnegie Mellon, No. 17 Johns Hopkins, and No. 25 McDaniel coming Shoemaker Field.
United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 10
- California Lutheran University
- Wash U (Mo.)
- Messiah University
- Tufts University
- Christopher Newport
- University of Rochester
- University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
- John Carroll University
- Amherst College
- NYU
MAC Commonwealth Preseason Poll
- Messiah University – 49 (7)
- York – 43
- Widener – 32
- Eastern – 31
- Stevenson – 25
- Hood – 24
- Alvernia – 12
- Albright - 8
