Box Score
Reading, PA — Tuesday afternoon, Messiah became the new number one ranked team in the most recent D3soccer.com Top 25 Poll.
Wednesday night at Alvernia University, things looked routine as usual.
Messiah ripped off 25 shots — 15 of which were on goal — to deal the host Crusaders a 3-0 loss, earning the Falcons their 13th straight win of the season and eighth by shut out.
“I thought we played well,” said Brad McCarty, Messiah head coach. “I was pleased with our guys being disciplined and putting so many shots on goal. Our goal is to put 50 percent of our shots on goal, and 15 out of 25 is a better percentage than that.”
The Falcons — who are ranked ninth in the latest NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 Poll — kept pressure on the hosts throughout the evening, limiting Alvernia (8-6-1, 2-3) to just one shot and one corner kick on the evening.
The Crusaders were able to draw the corner in the first half but couldn't find a shooting chance until late, as the Falcons possession game took shape from the opening whistle.
“(Alvernia) started off wanting to play high pressure, and I thought they did a good job of compacting the field at times,” McCarty said. “I thought we did a good job of breaking that pressure and creating chances.”
McCarty's squad broke through in the 23rd minute, as the team's barrage of attack yielded the game's first goal at the 22:07 mark. Junior Ketnt Ramirez was able to get behind the defense on the right flank, sending a long cross across the width of the field to senior Nick Thompson.
Thompson doubled the ball back via a header, and senior Geof Pezon was there, putting a shot past Crusaders' keeper Drew Gilbert to the lower right corner of the net.
Less than four minutes later, it was Pezon serving as helper, as the Blandon, Pa. native sent a curling corner kick into the box that found the head of junior Jordan Sands. Sands flicked the ball violently into the net for a 2-0 Messiah lead, and his first goal of the season.
The Falcons were unable to add to their lead through the remainder of the period, though possession and pace of play remained in Messiah's favor: Gilbert finished with seven saves in the game's first 45 minutes, while several other attempts were blocked by Crusader defenders.
“Their back line blocked a ton of our shots all night,” McCarty said. “It was a bit of a scrum (once we got inside the 18-yard box), but we stayed disciplined.”
Messiah (13-1, 4-0) added to its lead just 3:40 into the second period, as Nick Thompson played a ball to senior Sean Cunningham. Cunningham got to the end line and crossed a ball into the Alvernia goal mouth, an effort which Pezon finished with his first touch to conclude the game's scoring.
Messiah's 25-1 difference in shots was complemented by a 13-1 advantage in corner kicks.
“I didn't think we were quite as sharp in the second half, but that's okay,” McCarty said. “Overall, we got to work on some things, and I thought we found a good job of finding the open guy and finding scoring opportunities.”
The Falcons will look to keep their unblemished Commonwealth Conference record in tact Saturday, when the team hosts Albright College to Shoemaker Field. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
