By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Madison, NJ — An early deficit for the Falcons could not be overcome as mental mistakes helped host FDU-Florham notch three consecutive goals in the first 17 minutes of play Saturday afternoon, eventually leading to a 9-7 MAC Conference victory over Messiah.
The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Messiah, while FDU-Florham (7-4, 6-1) kept a firm grip on the top of the MAC standings.
“We knew we needed a great effort to come in here and get a win today, and we came up just short,” said Geof Weisenborn, Messiah head coach.
The game started in favor for of Weisenborn's club thanks to a goal by senior
Nate Windon just 49 seconds into the game. The Falcons' leader said that his senior, who leads the team in goals, led the team offensively from the opening whistle.
“Nate is having a great year and he started out well,” Weisenborn said. “He thrives on offense. He has such a game sense that makes everyone around him better. He knows his strengths and uses his skill set to score goals.”
Windon would score three goals on the day, pushing his team-leading total to 19.
But the Devils wouldn't submit to an early deficit. At the 12:51 mark in the first period, FDU's Drew Canfield received a pass from teammate Brian Gill and finished with the equalizer. The Devils' Pat O'Brien and Seth Molek would then break the tie in FDU's favor, O'Brien scoring with just over eight minutes left in the first period and Molek with two minutes elapsed in the second.
“The three goals early were all on us,” Weisenborn said. “We were playing well, but then we lapsed mentally, not playing to the standard that the guys know they can play at. That hurt us early on, but we weren't out of the game.”
Not at all, especially when freshman
Kyle Sproles scored 40 seconds after Molek's goal. The quick response set up what would become a trend throughout the remainder of the game; a battle of back-to-back goals. FDU-Florham's Wayne Sartorio answered Sproles' goal with just over six minutes to play in the first half, while a goal from senior
Brent Stewart again pulled the Falcons to a one-goal deficit.
The Devils' Brian Gill then scored a big goal with just under two minutes to play in the first half, though Weisenborn said a 5-3 FDU-Florham halftime lead was a bit of a relief for he and his club.
“We knew we could play a lot better,” Wesienborn said. “Being down just two goals and limiting them to five was good for us because the game was still intact ant we weren't playing to our ability. I think in the third, we came out playing much better mentally which helped us out.”
Sproles and classmate
Heath Kupecky showed their freshman status was nullified, as Sproles' second goal and Kupecky's eighth on the season countered a Devil's tally, cutting the lead in half at the end of the third.
Entering the fourth quarter, down by one, Weisenborn said his team failed to finish the game on the same note as the third.
“We had chances to tie up the game (in the fourth) but we didn't use the chances we had to the best of our ability. I thought the two goals scored (by O'Brien for FDU) were uncontested. We didn't make them earn it. We didn't' finish the game like we should.”
In the fourth, the Falcons and FDU played to a virtual stalemate, both scoring two goals following an initial tally from the Devils' Kevin Shadiack. Both teams took eight shots in the period, splitting six face-offs evenly, while both teams converted on five clears each.
Those were the type of numbers that would not have been bad, had Messiah not trailed to begin with.
“We let this one get away,” Weisenborn said. “That's one thing we still have to learn: The ability to finish games. Our strength is our defense (evident with sophomore goalie
Josh Stewart saving 14 shots and the defense converting on 20 of 27 clears) but we had some mental lapses throughout the game. Credit FDU for scoring off our mistakes.
“We aren't going to win a 17-15 game; that just isn't out style of play,” he continued. “We have to get better in knowing how we play and playing that way the entire game. We can manage physical mistakes because every team makes those. But the best teams are the ones that limit mental mistakes. We can compete with anyone we play and now we just have to keep learning how to finish games and sealing a victory.”
Messiah will look to finish against arch-rival Widener University next, as the team hosts the Pride to a night game at Anderson Field Wednesday. Face-off is set for 7 p.m.
