Messiah women’s soccer wins fifth NCAA D3 national championship

Seniors Alex Brandt and Rachel Scheibeler connected for a game-winning goal in the 21st minute on Saturday, as Messiah College held on to win 1-0 over Emory University in the NCAA Division III National Championship.

The winning score came off a perfectly slotted ball by Brandt to the right edge of the box, as Scheibeler ran on to the ball from the right side for a quick touch forward and shot past Emory keeper Erica Stein. The goal was Scheibeler’s 16th on the season—her second game-winner in as many days.

“We focus on a lot on movement and passing,” Scheibeler said of the Falcons’ attack. “We want to be dynamic out there and create chances, and we did on that play.”

The Falcons’ national title is their fifth in program history, as they were making their sixth-straight appearance in the National Final. All national titles have come under head coach Scott Frey, who in his 13th season has now accumulated a record of 276-14-13 (.932).

“It never gets easy,” Frey said of both Messiah’s winning tradition and their championship victories. “There hasn’t been an easy one yet, and tonight was a battle from start to finish.”

The title game match-up between No. 1 Messiah and No. 16 Emory was highly-anticipated considering the Eagles were responsible for the Falcons’ lone loss this season—a 2-1, overtime win at Messiah in early September. The National Final lived up to the billing, as it was immediately evident that the Falcons and Eagles would fight toe-to-toe from start to finish.

“The game was such a midfield battle,” Frey said. “Our defensive backs have been fantastic for all three weeks of the NCAAs, and they were so again tonight.”

The contest started in Messiah’s favor, with the combination of Brandt, Scheibeler, and Nikki Elsaesser playing off each other and creating runs forward for Messiah. Even as Emory’s physical defense managed to hamper the Falcons’ attempts, it appeared Messiah was close to finding a goal-scoring connection.

That connection was made between Brandt and Scheibeler, with Brandt’s midfield possession starting 35 yards out from the goal. Her eventual slot to Scheibeler’s score set off a celebration in the stands, as the large Messiah contingent cheered the goal.

“I thought we were playing a bit scared in the first half,” Emory head coach Sue Patberg said, mentioning the anxiousness that comes from playing in the National Final. “We were playing as individuals at the beginning and, as a team that’s not easily scored on, their quick goal took us aback.”

Down 1-0, the Eagles seemed jolted back into focus as they soon began to create chances of their own. Just minutes after the Falcons’ score, Emily Feldman lofted a shot from 25 yards out over Messiah’s crossbar. A few moments later, Messiah’s Alicia Frey was forced to clear a long serve into the box, with her header going straight up instead of away from the goal. Katy Kruse managed to get her own header on the ball, sending it to the right post where keeper Audra Larson made the grab.

Now getting challenged on their defensive end, Messiah almost pushed across a second goal in the 30th minute, as Holly Burgard’s right side serve went to Brandt just eight yards off the goal line in the Eagles’ box. Brandt took one touch before losing sight of the ball for a split second, enough time for Emory to clear it away.

With the game remaining 1-0, Frey and Brandt each came within inches of a score just before the intermission. Frey’s attempt came on a free kick from 20 yards straight out from the goal—a similar position to her free kick score against Grove City just three weeks ago. Her shot was struck to the perfect height, but zipped just wide of the top-right corner.

Ninety seconds later, and less than three minutes from the half, a laser off the foot of Brandt from straight out in the midfield went inches over the center of the crossbar.

Unable to convert, the Falcons held their 1-0 lead into the break. However, just minutes into the second half, Messiah again almost doubled their lead off the foot of Brandt. Playing off a free kick from 35 yards near the right sideline, a serve into the box was deflected to Brandt at the top of the 18-yard line, with her sharp strike saved on the dive of Kaele Leonard near the left post.

“Their keeper in the second half was fantastic,” Frey said of Kaele. “She made a few great plays out there.”

Kaele collected two saves in her time, with a tremendous dive in the 65th minute also keeping freshman Macauley Soto from finishing a loose ball in front of the goal.

With their defense stifling the Falcons, the Eagles began to play with more desperation and intensity. With the physicality of both teams continuing, Emory managed to control possession and territory for a majority of the second half.

“We had some anxiety and tension at the start, and we played more loose in the second half,” Patberg said. “When you go down 1-0, you have nothing to lose. Our players were more confident after halftime, and we just had to go for it.”

As a result of Emory’s determination, the Falcons were forced to clear a number of lofted balls into their penalty box as Emory continued to pound balls ahead in hopes of creating scoring chances. The Eagles managed to collect nine shots in the second half, but only two on goal.

“(Emory) really had possession, but they never created that ‘great look’ for a score,” Frey said. “We kept our shape, our forwards tracked back, and we contained them. We didn’t give up fouls in bad places, either.”

Frey was right, except for one free kick the Eagles did receive in the 81st minute of play. Playing exactly from the right corner of the Falcons’ 18-yard line, Emory packed the area in front of the Messiah goal. Lee Bachouros’ serve went well high of the far left post, however, bringing a sigh of relief from the Falcons’ faithful.

Messiah managed to regain some control late in the game, with Brandt continually breaking pressure in the midfield to keep the Eagles’ defense honest in the back.

“We knew we could bring pressure if Alex could play out of the midfield,” Frey said of Brandt. “She was fantastic, and her ability to break their pressure was a huge part of the game.”

With the clock winding down, Emory’s last great opportunity came off a corner on the left side. Playing to Banchouros on her run outside the 18-yard line, the Eagles saw her shot go 10 yards wide of the near post.

Both teams continued to scrap in the final minutes, with Messiah managing to run down the clock to their fifth National Championship in program history.

For Scheibeler, her offensive prowess in the NCAA Tournament earned her the Tournament’s Offensive Most Valuable Player award.

“This experience is really exciting,” Scheibeler said of her team’s title. “We treat every game like it’s the most important and that it matters more than any other. We train hard no matter who our opponent is, and it’s satisfying to know you gave your best.”

Scheibeler was joined on the All-Tournament team by Brandt, Frey, Elizabeth Phillips, and Nikki Elsaesser.

For Emory, the loss brings to end a great season that concludes with a 15-2-7 record.

“Getting to this stage is a long time in the making,” Patberg said of her team. “It’s incredibly hard to get here, and you hope that you can keep coming back. It’s been great for our players to understand what it takes to get here.”

The Falcons finish the season with a 24-1-1 record, as their sixth-straight National Final ended with their fourth Division III crown in five years. For Frey, the win was especially satisfying considering his daughter Alicia and son Drew earned national titles with Messiah on Saturday; Drew is a junior member of the Falcons’ men’s soccer team that defeated Ohio Northern on Saturday to also win a national title.

“No words can really express how proud I am—it’s just awesome,” Frey said. “To have the pleasure of watching them at this stage of their lives? It’s just a wonderful time of life for me. I’m trying to not be too much of a coach while taking it in.”

The Falcons’ dual championships by the men’s and women’s soccer programs is the fourth occurence in College history (2005, 2008, 2009).

“We get to work with some of the most unbelievable young women, who are committed not only to soccer but to each other,” Frey continued, speaking on Messiah’s impressive program success. “They’re bound to each other because of their friendships and their relationship with Christ. It’s a hard dynamic to convey, but it’s reality.

“When you step on the field bound by something other than soccer, it’s an unbelievable force.”

2012 All-Tournament Team
Misericordia: Erin Roberts, Megan Lannigan
Wheaton: Keri Shannon, Alexa Sharkley
Emory: Lauren Drosick, Kaelyn Lucas
Messiah: Alex Brandt, Alicia Frey, Elizabeth Phillips, Nikki Elsaesser, Rachel Scheibeler

Defensive MVP: Lauren Gordodetsky
Offensive MVP: Rachel Scheibeler