Former Falcon Brings Team to Top

The women's lacrosse team at Messiah College is one of the more unheralded teams at the school. Following a roller coaster ride at the beginning of the season, the Falcons have turned in an incredible nine-game winning streak. With just two games remaining in the season, the team sports an impressive record of 11-3. The lacrosse team currently has 18 members, including five seniors: midfielder Jackie Dando, defender Betsy Tyson, defender Brianne Brennan, goalie Jen Venter, and goalie Brindley Beckwith. The team is led by Heather Greer, who is in her second season as head coach. Greer is dedicated to developing a program that "reflects the twin goals of 'Pursuing Athletic Excellence' and 'Developing Christian Character.'"

So far, Greer's stint has been short but successful. She posted a 10-7 record in her first season as head coach, including a 6-2 mark in Mid-Atlantic Conference play. Greer is a former four-year starter for the Falcons. She ended her career with 169 points and currently ranks fifth on the all-time Messiah scoring list. Greer also coached the Scotland National U-19 team in 2003, leading them to the World Championships. Greer has two assistant coaches: Joanna Dennstaedt and Ruth Ness. Dennstaedt is in her fourth year on the coaching staff, while Ness is a rookie coach.

The Falcons' current nine-game winning streak has been one of the more impressive displays of dominance in recent team history. During these nine games, the Falcons have scored 154 goals while allowing just 77, for a 2:1 ratio of goals scored to goals allowed. Eight of the nine games have been Middle Atlantic Conference games, and the Falcons currently sport a perfect 9-0 conference record. One of the more impressive victories during the Falcons' winning streak was a 19-4 pounding of Misericordia University, in which five different members of the team scored multiple goals.

Through fourteen games, the leading scorer is Rachel Dirksen, with 49 goals and 24 assists. Megan Bovenzi has contributed 43 points - 31 goals and 12 assists. Nikki Lawrence has contributed 39 points, by virtue of 31 goals and eight assists. Jackie Dando has scored 26 goals of her own, and Deb Tam has scored 24 times.

Dirksen was recently named the womenslacrosse.com NCAA Division III Rookie of the Week, as she scored 14 points during the Falcons' three wins from April 13-20. The award was Dirksen's second Rookie of the Week honor, as she had been awarded for her performance during the last week of March.

With the season all but two games from being finished, everything comes down to the final two games for the Messiah Falcons. The hard work, dedication, and commitment of the team's 18 members will hopefully be in full gear, as the Falcons prepare for a well-deserved postseason spot and a chance to compete in the NCAA Tournament.