Falcons Lean On Hench, Perseverance To Outlast Washington & Lee
Posted: 9/27/2008
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Sophomore Erin Hench netted two goals of vital importance Saturday.

Lexington, VA — In a game where top-ranked Messiah needed something, sophomore Erin Hench stepped up to be everything.

The sophomore forward scored two goals — the first to tie Saturday’s game at Washington and Lee University with under eight minutes to play in regulation and the second to win it with under eight seconds left in the first overtime — helping Messiah to a knock-down, drag-out 4-3 win at the Generals’ Watt Field.

The result got Messiah (8-0-2) back on the winning side of things following its second scoreless tie result of the year, although the victory came under atypical circumstances: The Falcons trailed on two occasions to Washington & Lee, marking the squad’s first deficits of the 2008 season. It was also the first time Messiah allowed three goals in a game since the 2004 season, a feat last accomplished by the University of Puget Sound in the 2004 national semi-finals — a 0-3 Messiah defeat.

Hench’s Saturday heroics turned what could have been catastrophic into a truly heroic moment, however, as Messiah proved to head coach Scott Frey it could win in a very different manner.

“I’m very proud of our girls,” Frey said. “They showed some true heart and determination in a situation where it could have been easy to pack it in. While we didn’t need to put ourselves in the position we were in, Washington & Lee played great and had us against a wall. To be able to come back the way we did, against a very good opponent on the road. . .it’s good stuff.”

Coming into Saturday’s game boasting a 5.4-goal margin of victory in its first seven wins, things appeared apropos early. Sophomore Joanna Haqq carded her seventh goal of the season just under 10 minutes in, taking a cross from senior Kacie Klynstra and volleying a blast past the Generals’ keeper for a 1-0 lead.

But instead of the subsequent cruise control often displayed by Frey’s squads following a lead, this afternoon was different. Most important was the impressive play from Washington & Lee (4-3), but also equating into things was a wet, slippery field, causing Frey to call the game “an adventure” early on.

“During the first half, it was wet enough that neither team really knew what the ball was going to do,” he said. “It made everything tenuous.”

What was not adversely affected was Washington & Lee’s ability to mount an impressive attack on the Falcons’ cage during the first 45 minutes, as the Generals eventually out shot Messiah by a 6-3 count during the first half while attempting four corner kicks to the Falcons’ one.

The latter statistic would come back to burn Frey’s club, as Washington & Lee captured a 2-1 advantage off of two corners — the first at the 34:58 mark and the second at the 43:09 point — a lead the hosts would carry into halftime.

“We knew they were a very dangerous team on corners,” Frey would say afterward. “They certainly proved that to be true today.”

The Generals’ nearly scored off a third corner early in the second half, but an apparent goal was waved off after the ball curved over the end line during service.

With Messiah trailing for the first time of the season, Frey’s team began to take back the possession game. As the field became more predictable under clearing skies, Messiah would eventually record a 15-3 difference in second-half shots, doubling up the Generals in corner kicks by a 4-2 count.

Messiah finally got the equalizer 20 minutes into the second period, when freshman Rachel Loya one-touched a deflected shot into the back of the net at the 65:04 mark. Standing just 10 yards out from the end line, Loya calmly used an inside-foot volley to place a ball just past Generals’ keeper Kiki Moreo to tie the game at 2-2.

“It was a very composed shot from Rachel,” Frey said. “It was one of those shots on a semi-open goal, one of those where it could have been really easy to get excited and miss. She was very, very composed under the circumstances.”

As all appeared to be returning to normalcy in the Falcons’ camp, Washington & Lee struck again just 10 minutes later. Making the most of a counter-attack, Generals’ star Anne VanDevender got in on the right side and snuck a shot past the outstretched arms of Messiah senior keeper Brindley Beckwith. Beckwith was able to get a piece of the ball, but it caromed into the corner of the net to give the Generals a 3-2 lead with 14:44 to play in regulation.

Messiah trailed for just the second time of the season.

Cue Erin Hench.

Hench outmaneuvered a Washington & Lee defender and was able to hit a low ball to the back post at the 82:32 mark, her eighth goal of the season and a virtual antacid for Frey. The score swung the momentum back to Messiah, although it would pale in comparison to the team’s jubilation less than 20 minutes later.

After registering four shots on goal to the Generals’ one in the extra stanza, Hench broke through at literally the last possible moment, taking a ball from 35 yards out and working to get in position for the game winner. Hench faked to the inside and pushed the ball back to the right, allowing herself just enough room from 20 yards out to get a look at the Washington & Lee frame.

Her shot was a rocket to the upper 90. There was little Moreo could do but watch it settle into the top corner of the netting. Just eight seconds remained on the Watt Field scoreboard.

“Erin basically carried us today,” Frey said. “We rode her, and she delivered.”

Hench finished with three shots on the afternoon, making her a model of efficiency as well. Junior Amanda Naeher led the offensive attack with seven shots, as Messiah eventually claimed a cumulative 22-10 advantage in that category.

Beckwith finished with a 2008 single-game high four saves, anchoring a defensive line that was seriously tested for the first time this season.

“We did not play as well as we could have in the first half,” Frey said. “We got up (by) one goal and didn’t settle on it. We didn’t pass the ball well, and we had too many turnovers that led to too much transition for (Washington & Lee). But I think we learned a little bit about ourselves today. I told the team at halftime, ‘this is where we find out what we’re all about, this is where we find out what type of character we have.’ We obviously have a lot to work on and improve on, but this was a great character check.”

Frey’s club will remain on the road for one more contest before returning to Shoemaker Field to begin a three-game home stand, as Messiah will travel to nearby York College Wednesday. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.