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Naeher Picked League Player Of The Year, Highlights Nine Honorees
Messiah's post-season honorees were (from top left to right): Junior Amanda Naeher, sophomore Erin Hench, senior Rachel Horning, senior Kacie Klynstra, junior Carey Cortese, junior Katlyn Musser, freshman Kelsey Gorman, sophomore Molly Bletz and senior Brindley Beckwith.
Annville, PA — Senior Amanda Naeher accentuated nine all-conference selections for the Messiah women’s soccer program, as the sturdy forward was named 2008 Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year, the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation announced Friday. Naeher — who set single-season school records in goals (28) points (62) and hat tricks (five) — was one of six All-Commonwealth First Team members for the Falcons, as sophomore Erin Hench, senior Rachel Horning, senior Kacie Klynstra, junior Katlyn Musser and junior Carey Cortese joined her. Senior goalkeeper Brindley Beckwith was selected to the league’s second team all-conference, and was joined by sophomore Molly Bletz and freshman Kelsey Gorman. Messiah’s nine all-conference selections equaled the program’s tally on the 2007 ballot, as league coaches were obviously impressed by the Falcons 8-0 record in conference regular-season and post-season play — a mark that was obtained via a cumulative 38-1 scoring difference. Individually, the story of the year was Naeher, as the attack led the league in goals (14 in conference play) and points (30), finishing second in game winners with two. Naeher carded three of her hat tricks in a three-game conference stretch, helping Messiah to a 5-0 win at Arcadia University Oct. 27, an 8-0 decision against Albright College Oct. 29 and a 5-1 result at Elizabethtown College Nov. 1. It was Naeher’s second straight first-team accolade, while she became the first Messiah player to earn player of the year honors since 2008 graduate Stef Rowe secured the feat in 2006. Hench — last season’s rookie of the year and league first teamer— was just a step behind Naeher in goals scored (16), dishing out 12 assists for 44 points overall. Horning, who graced the league’s first team after being selected second team all-conference in each of the last two seasons, scored seven goals on the year while dishing out a team-leading 13 assists. The dominance of those overall season statistics were poignant when compared to league competition, as Hench finished second only to Naeher in both goals and points, while Horning finished tied for assists. Klynstra, Musser and Cortese rounded off Messiah’s first team selections, with statistics unable to capture the trio’s profound impact on the game. A controlling midfielder, Klynstra finished with three goals and four assists — for a total 10 points — being selected a First Team All-Commonwealth player for the third straight season following a second-team choice as a freshman. Musser followed a first-team selection in 2007 with three assists this season, while the 2008 award was Cortese’s first such honor. Both Musser (an outside back) and Cortese (a center defender) helped Messiah to 15 shut outs and just eight goals allowed on the season — numbers that ranked the team atop the league in both categories. Bletz, Gorman and Beckwith had much to do with that, as Beckwith earned her second all-conference honor in as many years while Gorman — who started in all 21 games and scored a pair of goals — made her rookie year an impressive one. The all-conference honor was also a first for Bletz, as the sophomore chipped in with six assists this season. Widener University’s Brittany Harvis was named Commonwealth Rookie of the Year. Pride head coach Brian Sheehan was tabbed Coach of the Year, his first honor in three seasons at the helm.
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