GRANTHAM, Pa. – With the 2025 Messiah University women's soccer season beginning on Saturday, check out the season preview below.
2024 Recap
The Falcons finished the 2024 season with a 18-2-3 overall record with a 7-0 record in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons won their sixth-straight MAC Commonwealth Championship with a 4-0 win over York to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Falcons advanced through the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament with a 6-1 win over Gordon College and a 1-0 win over Case Western Reserve University. The Falcons fell 3-2 in overtime in the sweet sixteen to the University of Chicago.
2025 Roster Outlook
After finishing in the Sweet Sixteen last season, the Falcons return a strong core of players to the 2025 roster. The Falcons return a strong offensive core with MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year,
Brittany Laird, MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the
Addi Martin,
Hannah Adair, and
Mia Libby all return after finishing the 2024 season top five in points for the Falcons. The Falcons defense returns two all-conference honorees in
Tahlia Lloyd and
Bailie Dull. The Falcons also return,
Hannah Lashley,
Ella Lent-Koop,
Lydia Ring,
Lexi Sarago,
Alayna Williams, who all played key minutes last season.
Kenzie Derstine,
Aundrea Frederick,
Tatum Goodling,
Hannah Lashley, and
Claire Vollmer also return as depth pieces for the Falcons. The Falcons return veteran goalkeeper,
Ava Wert, who has started 63 games for the Falcons in her career. Messiah also adds five first year players that look to compete for minutes in their first year in a Falcons' uniform.
2025 Schedule
The Falcons open the 2025 schedule with three straight road games before hosting their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 6 against Ursinus College at 7:30 p.m. The Falcons play 10 games this season at Shoemaker Field, including the homecoming game against Widener University on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 6:00 p.m. Messiah plays three ranked teams in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 25 at No. 5 Johns Hopkins University (Sept. 3), versus No. 2 William Smith (Sept. 10), and against No. 7 Misericordia (Sept. 20).
United Soccer Coaches Preseason Top 10
1. WashU
2. William Smith
3. Christopher Newport
4. Emory University
5. Johns Hopkins
6. Amherst College
7. Misericordia University
8. Messiah University
9. Loras College
10. Trinity University
MAC Commonwealth Preseason Poll
1. Messiah University - 49 (7)
2. York College - 43
3. Eastern University - 34
4. Widener University - 30
5. Hood College - 24
6. Stevenson University - 24
7. Alvernia University - 12
8. Albright College - 8
