[NCAA DIVISION III WOMEN] Senior Erin Hench scored two goals and assisted on another as Messiah won its fourth NCAA Division III women's final with a 3-1 victory over Wheaton (Ill.). Hench is part of a senior class that finishes with three national titles and a 96-1-4 record over four seasons. The Falcons' lone defeat came in the 2010 final game against Hardin-Simmons.

“What can you say about this senior class?” said Messiah coach Scott Frey. “They’ve lost one game in their careers and have been to four national title games. And this one today -- it was one of the most memorable.”

The Falcons trailed for the first time in almost two months on freshman Anna Seabolt's goal in the seventh minute.

Hench equalized in the 15th minute and put the Falcons ahead in the 56th minute, putting away a rebound of her own shot for her eighth goal of the NCAA Tournament.

Sub Hannah Weyland finished off the scoring in the 68th minute when Hench fed her for the second goal of her career.

The 2011 title follows championships in 2005, 2008 and 2009.

“We’ve had teams in the past that have seemed to have everything go their way,” said Frey. “This year, this team has faced a lot of adversity and has earned everything they’ve accomplished. I’ve been saying it for a while now, they’re a special group.”

Dec. 3 in San Antonio, Texas
Messiah 3 Wheaton (Ill.) 1. Goals: Hench (Wingard) 15, Hench (unassisted) 61, Weyland (Hench; Brandt) 68; Seabolt (Kishkunas, Lelle) 8.
Wheaton -- Graham, Kopelman, Kishkunas, Orewiler, Karsten, Shannon, Tan, Lelle, Strom, Seabolt, Le Baudour. Subs: Barreto, Anthony, Lee, Clark, Guidera, Turner, Disher.
Messiah -- Reilly, Wingard, Frey, Brandt, Hench, Trapp, Wulf, Shirk, Scheibeler, Gorman, Phillips. Subs: Clapper, Scott, Federline, Rogers, Weyland.
Att.: 562.