Grantham, PA - Just past the midway point of the 2012 women's lacrosse regular season, two things seem clear about the Messiah College Falcons: 1) they've proved they are one of the best teams in country; and 2) they're not satisfied.
Led by a strong balance of senior leadership and underclassman contributions, the Falcons recently rose to the
#10 ranking in the IWLCA Top 20 poll-- the highest ranking for the Falcons in program history.
Since that ranking, the Falcons have dropped a stunning,
20-18 decision in overtime to Catholic University. The game was eerily familiar to Messiah's
15-14 defeat at Franklin and Marshall in the week prior-- that one in double overtime. In both games, the Falcons held leads of at four goals late in regulation. Needless to say, the losses provided head coach
Heather Greer the opportunity to teach her team the importance of finishing strong.
If that lesson sinks in, the Falcons may be poised for a deep postseason run. That effort begins this week with their Commonwealth schedule; six of Messiah's final seven games are against their Commonwealth opponents. The league is in its first year of realignment, with the MAC being divided into the Commonwealth and Freedom divisions.
Last year, the Falcons won the MAC with a
16-6 win over Elizabethtown College. They advanced into the NCAA Championships,
defeating Denison University before
falling to Franklin and Marshall in the Second Round.
With senior standout
Rachel Dirksen leading the way, the Falcons are hoping for a greater performance in 2012.
Dirksen leads the Falcons with 43 goals and 13 assists, and is second to sophomore
Lizzy Keeney in draw controls, 39 to 32. With her scoring output this season, Dirksen has exploded into being the all-time leader in both career goals scored and career points for the Falcons. Entering the Falcons' game with Lebanon Valley on Wednesday, April 4, Dirksen has 208 career goals-- well ahead of the 177 goals of Katye Hall '05 that stood as the record.
Dirksen owns 296 career points, ahead of the 251 points of Regan Downton '04.
The senior from Glenside, Pa., is also second all-time in career draw controls (199) and third all-time in career assists (88). She is on pace to potentially tie and/or break both records.
Nevertheless-- and to the benefit of both Dirksen and her teammates-- a great strength of the Falcons in 2012 is team balance. Through the team's first nine games, five players-- Dirksen, Keeney,
Cecilia Kjellman,
Meghan Doolittle, and
Kiersten McGreer-- have collected at least 10 goals, with
Gabrielle Hamelryck having scored nine goals. The defense also continues to be a fierce weapon for the Falcons, as Messiah leads the Commonwealth in scoring defense by holding their opponents to only 9.22 goals per game-- the only team in the league under ten goals.
With balanced numbers like those the Falcons are looking to earn titles in 2012, both in the conference and the nation.
The Falcons continue their season when they travel to Lebanon Valley College on Wednesday, April 4, at 4:00 p.m.
