Jenna Stover
Student Writer
(Photo from gomessiah.com)
Beating Arcadia University with 5 goals to their 1, Messiah’s field hockey team has now remained undefeated for six consecutive games.
The team has one of the toughest schedules in NCAA Division III, and this win streak speaks a great deal for the team’s depth and strength on the field. When asked what this means for the program, Head Coach of the women’s field hockey team, Brooke Good, says, “We are playing really well right now. The entire team is coming together and making great connections both on and off the field.”
“We want to be playing our best hockey at the end of the season, not the beginning, so the fact that we’ve won the last handful of games is exactly what we want,” continues Good. “We’re going into the last few weeks of regular season and we need to focus on playing well, executing our game plan, and improving each and every game. If we accomplish these things, we will certainly reap the rewards of working hard through one of the most difficult schedules in Division III.”
Previously awarded the Rookie of the Year award for the Commonwealth Conference, Sophomore Carissa Gehman leads the team in points with 9 goals and 3 assists. Moriah Pfautz, a Junior forward previously awarded Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year, follows close behind with 7 goals and 3 assists.
Pfautz comments that, “It feels amazing to have a winning streak behind and with us. Moving forward, we are looking toward our opponents and working hard to continue that streak by using our momentum to propel us to more wins. We’re all playing so well together right now, and from here on out, I’m planning on that solid, great play continuing.”
Sophomore Taylor Holt was named Commonwealth Player of the Week. (Photo from gomessiah.com)
With an 8-4 overall record, Messiah leads the MAC Commonwealth Conference. Thanks to Taylor Holt, a Sophomore forward, the field hockey team has been able to retain their leading position. Holt had a role in both game-winning goals over Gettysburg and Arcadia, tallying an assist over the Bullets and a goal over the Knights. Holt, quickly following Pfautz with 6 goals and 4 assists, was just named the Commonwealth Player of the Week.
Still claiming the #17 national rank in the NCAA polls, Messiah’s field hockey program continues this week with an away game against Shippensburg University on Thursday and a home game versus Widener University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. on Anderson Field. Come support your Lady Falcons on Homecoming Weekend!