By snoadmin
Determination, grit and desire.
These are all qualities of a leader and they aptly describe Natalie Messina, a fifth-year senior and captain of the Long Beach State women’s soccer team.
Messina has helped lead the team to an 8-2-0 record during a grueling opening stretch featuring nine of its first 10 matches on the road. Of the two losses, one came against No. 3 UCLA and the other to Eastern Washington. Both losses were by one goal.
Messina, a three-time Big West Conference honorable mention and a four-year starter, has been captain of the team since head coach Mauricio Ingrassia took over the program three years ago.
“She’s the backbone of our young team,” said head coach Mauricio Ingrassia.”[Messina] is respected by both the team and staff. Making her captain was one of the first things I did when I became head coach.”
Messina is the center piece of a defense that is allowing a miniscule opponent average of .44 goals a game and has six shutouts this year. She plays an important role on defense as one of the two middle defenders for the team, often the last line of defense between an offensive player and the goalie.
“Our team would not be the same without her,” said backup goalie Tara Gotthardt. “She constantly gives 120% and helps keep the team motivated.”
Messina’s time at LBSU has come with some adversary. She was forced to sit out and redshirt during the 2003 season after dislocating her fibula during a game at Stanford.
She let it heal on its own and avoided surgery, returning to the field in the spring the following year. However, she described it as a hard rehab because she was not able to be out with the team every day and help out on the field. The year following the injury, she was named captain of the team, and has been a leader ever since.
With a talented yet young team this year, she has stepped up on and off the field, helping emphasize team defense and keeping the team headed in the right direction.
With the goal of making the NCAA tournament this year, Messina describes this as the best team she has played on in five years at LBSU.
When Messina is not on the field she is your typical student. She walks around campus listening to her iPod and can’t get enough of “Grey’s Anatomy.”
She is set to graduate once the season and semester are over in December and is currently applying to grad school to pursue a possible career as a school counselor.
With the leadership and maturity she shows on the soccer field, it is a safe bet Messina will be successful beyond the lines.
