BOXSCORE
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - The Wheaton College women's soccer team won its third NCAA Division III National Championship in four years on Saturday with a 1-0 win against Messiah College in the NCAA Division III National Championship match. Wheaton concludes the season with a NCAA Division III record mark of 27-0 on the year. Today's win was Wheaton's 45th consecutive victory.
Thunder Sophomore Jami Herrmann (PICTURED RIGHT) broke a scoreless tie late in the first half to give Wheaton the 1-0 lead. Herrmann collected a loose ball 42:50 into the match and bended the ball past Messiah keeper Brindley Beckwith.
Herrmann's goal gave Wheaton a 1-0 halftime lead that the Thunder would manage to maintain. Wheaton out-shot the Falcons 18-9 in the match, with a 9-4 edge in corner kicks. Messiah's best scoring opportunity came in the final five minutes of regulation, however Wheaton goalkeeper Kristin Eggert made a diving save to secure the lead. Eggert noted of the save, “I was focused pretty intensely on that ball. I knew that all of the girls around me had worked so hard to keep that zero on the scoreboard, so I really wanted to keep it as well.”
Eggert made five saves in 90 minutes of work as she earned an All-Tournament selection for the second consecutive year. Beckwith made six saves in the Falcons' net.
Thunder junior midfielder Kari Klynstra (PICTURED LEFT) was selected as the tournament's “Most Outstanding Offensive Player.“ Senior Bethany Barton was named the “Most Outstanding Defensive Player“ of the tournament for the second consecutive year. Junior defender Kelly Foltz also earned All-Tournament selection.
Thunder head coach Pete Felske commented, “I told the team after the match that this is something to really be proud of. To win two titles in a row, with everybody gunning for you and going undefeated is something very special.”
The Thunder becomes the third program to win three NCAA Division III National Championships. Wheaton and The College of New Jersey have each won three titles and UC-San Diego has won five Division III Championships.
Five of Wheaton's seniors: Sarah Richardson, Barton (PICTURED RIGHT), Eggert, Kira Davis and Melinda Lowry have been with the team for the past four seasons and all three of the program's National Championships. Wheaton has compiled a record of 97-6 over the past four years.
Richardson, a team captain, noted of the accomplishment, “Three national championships is something to be proud of. Our whole team stepped up this year and everybody brought something unique to the table to help us get to this point.”
Felske noted of the senior class, “I think what they have accomplished is far beyond what we expected. It is hard enough to win one Championship and unless you have done it, it is hard to know that. But to come back and do it a second time and to win a third title is way beyond our expectations as a coaching staff.”
