Natalie Messina

 

Nugget in the Rough

By Michael Bower
Online Forty-Niner
Sports Editor

Defender Natalie Messina is beginning to stack up the awards this season for the women's soccer team. She was named the Big West Conference Player of the Week for the first time in her career, and the Most Valuable Player in the Bluejay Classic over the weekend – her second MVP honors of the year.

The sophomore has had a tremendous week as she helped lead the 49ers to a 1-0 win in the championship game of the Bluejay Classic on Sunday against Creighton in Omaha, Neb. Messina knocked in the game winner five minutes into the first overtime to give the 49ers their second tournament title. Messina has been named to the All-Tournament team in all three tournaments the 49ers have participated in.

"The good thing as a coach is that we can put [Messina] at forward if we need to. She has that much of an impact," Assistant Coach Eddie Soto said.

But scoring goals is not Messina's specialty – it is her defensive skills that make her a vital part to the 49ers. The Beach posted back-to-back shutouts in the Bluejay Classic, and are cruising into the Big West Conference games with their best record (5-3-1) since the program restarted in 1998.

Behind Messina, the soccer team has posted five shutouts in nine games, and has given up just 11 goals on the season – six of those coming against UC San Diego after a tiring trip home from Hawaii.

"Messina is the nucleus of our backline," Soto said.

The 49ers open Big West Conference play this weekend at UC Santa Barbara Friday and then at defending Big West Conference champions Cal Poly Sunday.