Lancaster County has its share of strong high school soccer players and programs.

Need proof? How about Messiah College, which has a contingent of players from here who played key roles in leading the Falcons to both the men's and women's NCAA Division III national championship earlier this month.

Messiah, a D-III powerhouse located in Grantham, finished an undefeated season on the women's side by defeating Wheaton College 5-0 in the national championship game.

It was the school's second championship in soccer in the last four years. Nine Lancaster County women played roles as a starter or reserve on the team, which finished 24-0-2.

The men's team, meanwhile, overcame some adversity during the season and in the playoffs to finish 22-2-2, winning its championship game on penalty kicks, 3-0 over Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.).

The team's backup goalkeeper, Nick Blossey, came in off the bench in the shootout and stopped all three kicks for his team to secure the title after regulation and overtime ended in a 1-1 tie.

For the women's team, Lancaster County players comprise almost half of the 24 players on the roster.

Eight of the nine saw significant playing time throughout the regular season and the playoffs.

"Our team, as a whole, got better as the season went along," said coach Scott Frey, in his ninth season at Messiah. "We only led 1-0 at the half in the championship game, but used our forward press to wear out our opponent. "There is no doubt the L-L League has great soccer and a mentality that fits with Messiah College."

Rachel Horning (Lancaster Mennonite) was one of three seniors on the Messiah squad this year. The forward wing was First-Team All-Region, while sharing the team lead in assists with 16 and being among the leaders in points with 30.

She finished her career with 32 assists, good for second all-time at Messiah. Horning was also known for her strong flip throw-in. This skill gave her an assist on a goal in the title game, one of two assists in the game for her.

"She is very dynamic," Frey said. "She could break down a defender in 1-v-1 and do special stuff on the flank. She started all four years for us and will be hard to replace."

"I won the national title as a freshman and I had no idea how big of a deal it was until I saw the upperclassmen pumped up," Horning said. "It was just an honor to be there. This year was a different feeling as we ended strong. It was great to win with so many local players playing with me that I faced off against earlier in my career."

Lisa Wingard (LM), a freshman, backed up Horning, her former teammate, on the right side of the forward line.

"Lisa is so fast and athletic," Frey said. "She has so many tools and it will be exciting to see where she goes as she develops more. Her interactions with Rachel will help her be even better in the future."

Wingard scored four goals and added six assists off the bench.

Junior forward Amy Horst (LM) played a role as a starter and off the bench at forward. She scored a goal on a free kick from the edge of the 18 in the title game.

"I made sure to get her on the field every game," Frey said. "She can hit the ball so well with either foot, and works really hard.

Horst finished with eight goals and four assists.

Sophomore defender and forward Katie Hoffsmith (Manheim Central) is Frey's favorite success story.

She was playing two different positions to start the year, but then the team sustained two big injuries and she stepped in on the back line about two-thirds of the way through the season.

She adjusted to the position well and became a force, earning the MVP award for the conference tournament and was named to the All-Final Four team.

"Katie had such speed, tenacity and bite in the back row," Frey said. "She began the year not even starting and by the end I could not get her off the field.

Hoffsmith, who tallied two goals and three assists, said she was excited about the opportunity given to her.

"Coach always stresses how you have to earn your time," she said. "I was doing it all in practice, but was still surprised when I was asked to step on the back line. I was proud to get that spot. It is the most confidence I have ever played with from the back."

Frey said his second favorite story was Kelsey Gorman (LM).

The freshman starred on the forward line in high school, setting a variety of scoring records in the process. Frey, though, saw a need at center defensive back and asked Gorman to play there.

"I was not expecting to play there as I had never played in the back, but I learned the position through practice and games," Gorman said. "I had a lot of help from Carey Cortese (Hempfield), who had played back there for a long time."

"Kelsey is a great passer and excelled like she had always played back there," Frey said. "She was the only freshman to start every game. She has speed, quickness, and is dominant on head balls in the air."

Cortese, a junior who still has two years of eligibility, was a steady presence on defense for Frey. She played next to Gorman.

"Carey keeps things out of trouble and finds the open person. She makes a tough job look easy," said Frey.

Katlyn Musser, a junior defender from Hempfield, played right back and middle back. She also had four assists. Musser has been named First-Team All-Conference all three years as a starter.

"She has very strong skills and is an all-around quality player for us," Frey said.

Jen Fessler (Manheim Central), a sophomore, served as a key role player for Frey. She played anywhere he asked her to on the field, combining good speed and her technical knowledge into strong play.

The other local player on the team is Leah Sipe (Ephrata).

The freshman midfielder played a lot early in the year, but suffered a high ankle sprain that shelved her for five weeks. She came back before the playoffs, but was rusty and unable to give much playing time to the team.

"Leah was an integral part of our team for the early part of the season," Frey said. "I see her back in the central midfield next year."

Hoffsmith said all the local players were friends.

"We got along so well," said Hoffsmith. "Chemistry is so important and we won because of it."

The men, under the leadership of coach Dave Brandt, expected to be rebuilding this year, having graduated a core of seniors who won three titles in four years.

The team played well at the right time, winning four games in sudden death in the playoffs and the championship on penalty kicks. It was the team's sixth national championship. Messiah's local players were Tom Renko and Derek Sipe, Leah's big brother.

Renko (Ephrata), a freshman midfielder, saw significant playing time off the bench as a defensive center midfielder. He scored four goals and started five games.

"I see him as a key to our team in the future," said Brandt said, in his 12th season at the Falcons' helm. "We recruited him hard and he has a bright future."

Sipe (Ephrata), a junior defender, took a backseat role this year, playing in nine games.

"Derek injured his knee freshman year and still deals with that," Brandt said. "Derek is a key personality for us and we are happy to have him as a part of the team."

The Messiah women outscored opponents 119-9, while the men outscored their opponents 78-12.