Naeher Earns National Player Of The Year, Klynstra All-American
Posted: 1/25/2009
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Junior Amanda Naeher, senior Kacie Klynstra and senior JD Binger were all honored by the NSCAA last weekend.

St. Louis, MO — Piggy-backing a dual national championship, the Messiah women’s and men’s soccer programs were further honored last weekend, as junior Amanda Naeher and senior JD Binger were named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Adidas NCAA Division III Women’s and Men’s Player of the Year, respectively.

The tandem was recognized during last weekend’s 2009 NSCAA Convention in St. Louis, Missouri. It marked the first year that the same institution claimed both honors in the history of the award — at any level.

Senior Kacie Klynstra was also honored, earning NSCAA/Adidas First Team All-American Honors while joining Naeher on the 11-member squad.

“Having Players of the Year from both our women’s and men’s teams is an incredible accomplishment for both our soccer programs and our institution,” said Jerry Chaplin, Messiah director of athletics. “It speaks to several things. Our programs are attractive to elite players, individuals who perhaps would star at the Division I or II levels, and it speaks volumes about their teammates. Our teams have players who will sacrifice for the greater good, resulting in amazing team accomplishments, but at the same time we would not have players of the year without our teams being successful. I’m sure that both Amanda and JD would credit their teammates as huge contributors toward these individual honors.”

Naeher provided the Falcons’ women’s program with its first-ever Player of the Year award, coming by way of a record-setting season. The physical forward scored a program-record 33 goals en route to a school-record 72 points, dishing out six assists while hammering six game-winners as well.

Naeher also tallied a program-record five hat tricks on the year, including a three-game stretch of consecutive feats.

“With all the success our program has had over the past few years, the one accomplishment or honor that has eluded us has been the Player of the Year award,” said Scott Frey, Messiah women’s soccer head coach. “It is exciting for everyone both in our program and those that have come through our program to see a Messiah player so recognized. We have had many truly great players come through this program over the years and their efforts have set the foundation for the success this team has earned.”

Naeher’s honor comes via a unique career, as the Seymour, Connecticut native arrived at Messiah in the fall of 2006 as a basketball player. Following a year as a member of the Messiah women’s basketball team, Naeher was approached by Frey dring the spring semester of 2007. The rest is history. Naeher went on to score 12 goals and dish eight assists as a sophomore, being named to Second Team All-MAC Commonwealth Conference as a result.

Things greatly expanded from that point, as Naeher was named this season’s MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year, helping Messiah to its second national championship in school history.

“Hers is an interesting story, certainly,” Frey said. “After a good season in 2007 I challenged Amanda to consider investing in some hard work during the summer, as I felt she had the qualities to be a dominant player at the Division III level – if she had the willingness to do the work. The evidence of that work showed in 2008 without question. I think she would be the first to tell you that her honor as Player of the Year is very much a reflection of the outstanding team she had around her this season. Other programs have talented players and scorers as well, but if you don't have the proper cast around you then the success of the entire team is often at risk. If an opposing team tried in some fashion to shut down Amanda we had so many other players that could carry the scoring load. I think the team would also say that a large part of our success could be attributed to the abilities, skills and heart of Amanda this fall.”

Klynstra joined Naeher as a First Team All-American, the second time Messiah boasted a pair of first-teamers in the same season (2008 grads Avie Fitzgerald and Stef Rowe each earned the honor in 2007). A staple in the Falcons’ midfield for each of the last four seasons, Klynstra finished with five goals and six assists in 2008, though Frey said her impact was not justified by statistics alone.

“Kacie has been that player on the team that we could not do without, but yet seldom got the recognition she deserved,” Frey said. “She came to Messiah as an attacking mid-field type player and we asked her to play center back in our defense. I will never forget a conversation I had with Kacie in regards to how we may utilize her this season, and her answer was simply, ‘Whatever you think it will take for us to win a national championship, I don't care.’

“Her leadership skills are one of example, respect and love,” Frey continued. “By love I mean she truly made each and every player on her team feel and know their importance to the success of this team. She knew that leadership was about helping her teammates achieve their goals and dreams. As a player, she was one of the most dynamic and intense competitors I have ever had the privilege to coach. The bigger the game, the bigger the challenge, the better she was. If the job was to shut down an offensive threat she would do it. If we needed a goal, she would find a way to create one. Tough both mentally and physically, Kacie was always prepared to play and enjoyed every moment as well.”

Binger earned his second First Team All-America honor to go with his Player of the Year award on the men’s side, becoming the fourth player to earn POY accolades in the storied history of the Messiah program. The defender joined 2007 Player of the Year Kai Kasiguran, 2005 winner David McClellan and 2002 star Hayden Woodworth — adding to his First Team All-America honor from a year ago.

“JD has developed into one of the most dominant center backs this program has ever had,” said Brad McCarty, Messiah assistant coach. “He has become a leader both on and off the field, and has been an integral part of the team’s success and accomplishments.”

Mostly known for his ability to shut down opposing teams’ offensive threats with incredible efficiency, Binger also had a penchant for drama. In this season’s national championship contest, Binger was the first Messiah player to connect during the penalty-kick shootout. With just one minute remaining in regulation in the sectional final against Christopher Newport University, Binger tallied the equalizer goal — a score that saved Messiah’s season en route to a 2-1, overtime win and Final Four berth.

“There have been times this past season where JD put the team on his back and provided us with the strength, toughness, skill and savvy needed to accomplish our goals,” McCarty said. “It’s hard to put into words what he’s meant to this program not just this season, but over the last four years.”

Like Naeher, Binger was named the 2008 MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year, making his third straight appearance on the All-MAC Commonwealth First Team. He finished his career with seven goals and two assists, though his work in the backfield will long remain his staple.

As a result of his play, Binger has recently been courted by several professional franchises, including Major League Soccer’s FC-Dallas — an organization which has tagged Binger with a “discovery claim,” giving the team first rights to sign him. Binger will have a week-long tryout with FC-Dallas next week, while the United Soccer Leagues’ Charlotte Eagles and Crystal Palace Baltimore have also expressed interest. Binger is expected to try out with those clubs in the future as well.

“The program is proud of the accomplishments of JD and understand that although it is an individual award, it requires an entire team to create the environment necessary to garner such an honor as National Player of the Year,” McCarty said. “I’m confident that JD has quite a career ahead of him.”

Former Messiah men’s head coach Dave Brandt was also honored at the NSCAA Convention, earning his fourth NSCAA/Adidas National Coach of the Year honor after leading the Falcons to their sixth title in the last nine years. Brandt recently resigned from his position to accept the head coaching job at the United States Naval Academy.

Messiah soccer was also heavily honored with regional awards, as four women and four men earned NSCAA/Adidias All-Mid-Atlantic honors. Senior Rachel Horning and sophomore Erin Hench joined Naeher and Klynstra with First Team accolades on the women’s side, while Binger was joined by sophomore Geoff Pezon on the men’s First Team. Senior Josh Sanders and sophomore Nick Thompson were Third Team selections.