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Messiah Claims Expected Top Spot In League Pre-Season Poll
Posted: 8/25/2009
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Tenth-year Messiah head coach Scott Frey looks to guide his team to an eighth conference crown this fall.

Annville, PA — Two-time national champion Messiah topped the annual survey by the leagues head coaches to claim the top position in the pre-season Commonwealth ConferencepPoll by garnering 57 points and seven top selections, the league offices announced Tuesday.

Messiah sat at the top of the 2008 Commonwealth Conference standings going into the conference’s post-season championship, and proved why they earned that spot: Messiah (24-0-2, 6-0) posted a 4-0 shutout win over Arcadia University in the semi-final game; Elizabethtown College defeated Widener University 3-2 in the other semi-final. In a much anticipated final, Messiah again posted another shutout victory, this time earning a 2-0 win over the Blue Jays for the conference crown and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Messiah began NCAA play by crushing Washington & Jefferson 6-0 and then handling Chicago 4-1 in sectionals. In the second sectional game, Messiah was matched up with Easter University, another MASCAC institution, with the Falcons earning a hard fought 2-0 win. The Falcons then cruised to a 3-0 victory over William Smith College in the National Semi-Finals. In a game which should have been close, Messiah dominated from start to finish by pounding Wheaton 5-0 for a convincing National Championship.

Losing just three seniors off its 2008 roster, Messiah looks to be at the front of the pack again in 2009. The Falcons return several players from that championship team, including National Player of the Year Amanda Naeher. Naeher led the conference in goals (33) and points (72). Junior Erin Hench (22 goals, 16 assists), senior Casey Cortese, and senior Katlyn Musser were first team all-conference selections. Second-team selections Molly Bletz (junior) and Kelsey Gorman (sophomore) will help guide the defenders. Tenth-year head coach Scott Frey has compiled a record of 180-12-10 in nine seasons as Messiah’s head coach, helping the Falcons to seven Commonwealth titles.

Elizabethtown earned second place and one first place vote in the preseason poll. Senior midfielder Erin Scott (4 goals, 3 assists, second team all-conference) is the lone all-conference returnee. Bob Scotten enters his second season as head coach after leading the Blue Jays to a 13-6-2 overall record and runner-up in the Commonwealth Conference in 2008.

Widener University (11-6-2, 4-1-1) landed the third spot in the coach’s poll. The Pride last season hosted a conference tournament game for the first time in 13 years. Senior first team all-conference forward Sam Baer has made a name for herself with great passing, smart play, and a solid team concept. She is the team’s career leader in assists. Not to be outdone, senior goalkeeper Alee Gunter was also a first team selection - an aggressive player who tied for first in the league last season with eight shutouts and broke the school mark for single-season goals against average. Sophomore Brittany Harvis, the conference’s Rookie of the Year, was second team all-conference due to her impressive play at forward. Another second team selection, Junior Jessie Furia has been one of the Pride’s most reliable competitors the last two years. Coach of the Year Brain Sheehan will help guide his team into postseason play.

Arcadia (9-8-2, 2-3-1) rounds out the top four in the preseason poll. The Knights return three second team All Commonwealth players to the field in ’09 as they look to make their second consecutive trip to the Commonwealth Tournament. These players are forward Janelle Jablonski, midfielder Katie O’Malley, and defensive back Brittany Drosdak.  Jablonski returns as the top scorer from ’08 (13 pts.), while O’Malley and forward Stephanie Welch combined for 17 points last season. 

Lebanon Valley College (9-7-2, 2-4) returns its four top scorers for the 2009 season. Junior forward Lauren King scored a team-high seven goals last year to lead the attack. Classmate Ely Kirkhoff scored four goals last year, two of which were game winners. Senior midfielder Dana Thomsen will co-captain the Dutchmen and is coming off a career-high three goals in ’08. In goal, sophomore keeper Alyson Reitmeyer enters her second season as the primary starter in net. She won seven games last year, six of which were shutouts.

Lycoming College’s (5-8-4, 2-3-1) offensive charge will be led by junior captain Kaitlin Horn. In 2008, Horn finished as the second leading scorer for the Lady Warriors, posting 10 points on five goals. Joining her on the front line will be junior twins Kari and Kati Shaner. Last season, the two combined for 11 points. Senior captain Samantha Jo Bell will lead the midfield this season. Last season, Bell was crucial to the transition from the defensive half to the offensive half. Hallie Weakland and Taylor Ramsay, both senior captains, will lead the defensive backfield.

Albright (7-10, 0-6) will welcome back a group of key veterans this fall. Amongst the team’s top leaders are senior defenders Lindsay Kurtz, Allie Yoder, and Kimberley Spataro. This trio will play a major part in solidifying the red and white’s backfield this fall. In the midfield, Gloria Alfonsi and Amy Hoelscher will play a major part in controlling the pace of the game. Look for junior Isla Wilczinksi to lead Albright’s offense after a stellar sophomore campaign. Wilczinski led the team in scoring last season recording a total of seven goals with two assists.

Alvernia College (6-13, 1-7) makes the transition to the Commonwealth side after competing in the Freedom Conference for one season. Sophomore Amy Mesce had a break-out freshman campaign leading the team with fourteen points and tied for the team-lead with six goals. She was one of only five players to play in every game this season. She was followed closely by fellow classmate Kate Wimberg who also netted six goals season and was second on the team with 13 points. Both junior Felicia Sippel and sophomore Sara Gimber impressed with three goals and two assists last season.

The 2009 soccer campaign is set to kickoff on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The MASCAC women’s soccer championships begin Nov. 3 with semi finals matches, with the championship on Nov. 7 (all games at higher seed). For more information on women’s soccer, visit the conference website at www.mascac.org.

2009 Commonwealth Conference Women’s Soccer Pre-Season Poll
1. Messiah — 57 points (7)
2. Elizabethtown — 48 points (1)
3. Widener — 45 points
4. Arcadia — 41 points
5. Lebanon Valley — 34 points
6. Lycoming — 27 points
7. Albright — 19 points
8. Alvernia — 17 points

( ) first place votes in paretheses

This press release was provided by the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation and the Commonwealth Conference.