Rochester, NY — The Messiah men's soccer team flipped the script against the University of Rochester Sunday night, using an early goal from freshman Kent Ramirez and a well-organized defense to defeat the host Yellowjackets by a 1-0 score in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championships at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
It was an almost identical play-out from Messiah's first-round win over Medaille College, as the Mavericks used a goal in that contest's first two minutes to put the Falcons in a hole. Messiah was able to rebound for a 2-1 win Saturday, however, seemingly finishing Medaille's plan Sunday against Rochester.
With the victory, the Falcons moved into the “Sweet 16” round of the tournament and will play Montclair State University next weekend on the campus of Christopher Newport University. Messiah — ranked eighth in the latest NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 Poll — improved to 18-2-2 overall while Rochester — ranked 10th — finished 14-3-2.
“Both coaches agreed that it was a good college game that could have gone either way,” said Messiah coach Dave Brandt afterward. “It was wide open. Games like that are fun to watch.”
Probably fun to play, too. The teams met last year at Messiah in the “Sweet 16” and the Falcons left with a 6-0 victory. Rochester remembered, and talked about it at halftime.
“We said we have to continue to defend,” said Rochester head coach Chris Apple. “We learned our lesson last year. We threw too much forward (looking for a goal) and they took advantage.”
Sunday evening, it was Ramirez that foiled Rochester's hopes, scoring on a counter attack just four minutes into the match. Sophomore Geoff Pezon, who scored on a breakaway in overtime Saturday night in round one, sidestepped a tackle and pushed the ball ahead to senior Brett Crompton. He ran about a dozen yards with it before laying it into the path of Ramirez at the edge of the penalty area, just to the left of the arc. As Ramirez outpaced a fullback to spring free, Rochester goalkeeper Michael Peacock charged off the line to challenge. Ramirez managed to angle the ball past Peacock's slide and into the lower right corner of the goal at 3:59.
Crompton set up the goal and nearly had another which would have clinched the win with just over 17 minutes to play. Sophomore Danny Thompson carried the ball up the middle of the pitch and sent it wide right to freshman Derek Black. He then went straight down the right side of the penalty area, pulled Rochester defenders towards him and laid a pass back into the goalmouth where Crompton was running hard at the left post. His shot was blocked low by Peacock, but the Rochester junior couldn't control the rebound. Crompton did, and when he shot again, Peacock smothered it.
“It would have been nice if one of those (two shots) went in,” Brandt said. “That ball usually slides under a lot of goalkeepers. He made two good saves.”
Rochester had a couple of good chances to get on the scoreboard, but were denied by a stiffening Messiah back line. Midway through the first half, the Yellowjackets' Scott Cady entered and wasn't on the pitch more than a minute before he created danger. Rochester's Sean Hantes went down the left sideline, pulled the ball back as a defender came out to challenge and got it to teammate Jake Cargill. His floated cross into the center of the goalmouth found Cady at the edge of the crease, but his point-blank header was fisted over the bar by Messiah junior goalkeeper Jared Clugston.
“I think I might have gotten too excited (as the cross came in),” Cady said. “I didn't put enough power in it to get it past him.”
“It was a great play (by Rochester),” Brandt said. “Our keeper was right on it, though. He made a good save.”
Clugston's task was helped by the play of senior and MAC Commonwealth Player of the Year JD Binger, as the center half and Josh Mull spear-headed a unflappable back line. Apple cited the defenders' ability to continue challenging Rochester shooters, sometimes doubling the ball and taking it away. At other times, Messiah's crew simply shut down what appeared to be open lanes to the goal.
“Binger was a handful,” said Apple. “He reads the play and steps to the ball so well. I thought he was the best player on the field.”
Brandt agreed. “I thought JD was fantastic tonight,” he said. “Rochester is very dangerous on set plays. We defended closer to the goal than we usually do. UR has great service on those balls.”
Seven minutes into the second half, Rochester forward Steve Welles collected a pass out on right wing, took it down the sideline and crossed into the middle where teammate Scott Zorn's open shot was blocked by Mull.
As one of the defenders who had to hold his ground, Mull was pleased with the team effort. “We did a pretty good job in transition,” he said. “They are very good serving balls up and they are good in the air. JD cleans up a lot of stuff.”
Messiah will now look to be the first to put a chink in Montclair State University's armor, as the third-ranked Red Hawks will open next weekend's NCAA Sectional round with a 21-0-0 overall record. Messiah will take on Montclair State at 1 p.m. Saturday at Christopher Newport's stadium. Fourth-ranked Emory University will take on the host Captains, a team receiving votes in the latest Top 25 national poll, at 3:30 p.m. The winners of those two games will meet at 3 p.m. Sunday for the right to advance to the 2008 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Final Four.
Christopher Newport will be running a live videocast of all three games — as well as live stats — this weekend. Links will be provided on the men's soccer schedule page when they become known. Fans can track all the action via a 2008 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship interactive bracket, available online at NCAA.com.
Portions of this release were provided by the University of Rochester office of sports information.
