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National Champs Knock Off Alumni In Annual Challenge
Posted: 4/18/2009
More Women's Soccer news
Sophomore Erin Hench fights with '06 grad BJ Atkins for a 50-50 ball at Saturday's annual alumni game.

Grantham, PA — On a perfectly gorgeous afternoon, the alumni of the Messiah women’s soccer program returned to the Grantham campus to take on the 2008 NCAA Division III National Champions in the annual alumni game — this year held Saturday at 1 p.m.

Though 2005 grad Kelly Thomas had designed and distributed a training program for her squad to prepare them for the contest it was to no avail. Twenty-two former Falcons returned to the pitch — including six All-Americans and many all-conference players to numerous to list. However, youth and fitness trumped knowledge, experience and wisdom once again, as the current Messiah players won by a 9-2 score.

It would have also helped a little bit if the alumni would have had their keeper show up on time.

Regardless of that, the game was over early. Sophomore Erin Hench put the young Falcons on the board just minutes into the game when she out ran the alumni defense and turned the corner before depositing the ball in the net. Several goals followed as the alumni just couldn’t keep pace with the youthful legs that have also been training for the past several months. Freshman Jessica Shirk, who has been recovering from ACL surgery, showed what she was capable of, scoring four goals on the day. Junior and NCAA Division III Player of the Year Amanda Naeher got on the board with two goals of her own, including a great header off a corner kick early in the second half.

Despite the lopsdided loss, credit was due to the alumni, as they never gave in and actually scored the last two goals of the game. Soon-to-be-graduated Rachel Horning (’09) showed she hasn’t lost much over the past few months as she created two excellent chances that were finished off by Corrie Jones (’07). The alumni claimed a great moral victory as they tied the Young Falcons in the second half 2-2 — an excellent turn around after losing the first half 7-0.

“It was such an enjoyable day,” said Scott Frey, Messiah head coach. “To watch former players step on the field again and remember what each of them has contributed to this team and program. Many wonderful memories went through my mind of moments each of them made while wearing the Messiah jersey. Also, it is important for our current players to see from the Alumni how special this moment and opportunity is and to not take it for granted but do get everything out of it you possibly can. When it is all said and done though, the most important part will be the wonderful friendships and relationships built over the years. Events like this give them the opportunity to reconnect again and relive those memories.”

Messiah will conclude its non-traditional spring season in grandiose fashion, when the squad travels to Penn State University Friday evening for a double-dip against NCAA Division I competition. Messiah will take on Bucknell University for a 70-minute contest at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 60-minute game against the host Nittany Lions at 8:30 p.m. All games are slated to take place at Penn State’s Jeffrey Field.