Defense shines in loss at No. 1 Messiah

GRANTHAM, Pa.: No. 24 Arcadia University Women's Soccer traveled to their rival No.1 Messiah College for another battle of the Commonwealth Conference's top teams early this evening, and suffered just their third loss of the season, a 6-0 final in favor of the Falcons. Aside from the unsettling score, Arcadia amped up their defensive pressure in the second half and held the Falcons off the board for the final 45 minutes.

It was a fairly quiet and balanced but physical opening fourteen minutes and that was how the Knights wanted it. Junior keeper Jackie Law (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) was tested twice, and on her game, turning both Falcons chances away and first year Kim Canfield (Hillsborough, NJ/Immaculata) got a decent look but her shot carried wide. Arcadia's defense was alert and focused in their work with the midfield waiting for their opportunity. And then Messiah's persistence snowballed, all at the hands of Corrine Wulf, who entered today's game with 7 goals on the season. Wulf brought the home crowd to their feet three times over the next four minutes taking her team out to a 3-0 lead.

Beginning at 14:13, Erin Hench passed into the 18 for Wulf who slotted her ball into the lower left corner putting Messiah on top 1-0. Under three minutes later, Arcadia fouled in the box and the home team was awarded a penalty kick at 16:53, taken by Wulf for her second straight and a 2-0 Falcon lead. Almost immediately, at 17:45 the Falcons took the ball down the field and a cross into the box by Elizabeth Phillips first found the head of Wulf and next the back of the net and just like that, Messiah had a 3-0 advantage.

At 24:10, with the Knights trying to clean up on another Falcon attack, they fouled in the box, providing Wulf with the chance for her second PK of the first half. She responded, with her 4th unanswered score of the half and a 4-0 lead for the home team. Messiah's Alex Brandt put a shot into the top corner from inside the 18 at 26:55 and Rachel Scheibeler capped first half scoring with :26 left on a clear shot from the left side putting the Falcons up 6-0 at the half.

Arcadia wouldn't allow another goal. The Knights did a superb job of closing off Messiah's shooting space by pushing up their defensive line. When the Knights would allow 5 or 7 yards to Messiah on the attack, the Falcons hesitated. But they kept at it. In the 53rd minute Hench turned on dime and lazered a shot into Law, who was ready for it. Law later denied Lauren Federline on a shot from 10 yards out.

Canfield broke free in the 78th minute and was able to create the Knight's first corner opportunity of the game. Sophomore Rachel Dolly (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) served the corner into the box that the Knights got a head on inside the 18 but couldn't get it in on Messiah keeper Autumn Reilly. Senior Brittany Drosdak (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) got a good touch in the 85th minute, but again the shot carried wide. The Knights were relentless at finding that next opportunity, and it was about to come on a 3-on-1 in the final minute but Messiah (10-0-1/2-0 CC) sealed off the all options and held on for the 6-0 win.

Messiah led in shots 21-2 and corners 5-2. Law finished with 7 stops for the Knights in net.

No. 24 Arcadia (8-3-1) played a strong defensive game that should serve them well as they play through their remaining Commonwealth schedule, beginning with a road game at Widener mid-week, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. The Knights return home to host Lycoming on Oct. 15 as part of Family Weekend, taking to the New Field pitch at 12 Noon.

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