Box Score
By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Chester, PA — After coming back from a three-goal deficit in the first quarter and tying the game up at four goals apiece at halftime, Messiah was in a deadlock against undefeated conference opponent Widener University for the top spot in the conference Tuesday night.
The Falcons struggled in the second half to keep their impressive streak rolling, however.
Messiah dropped its first game in the last 10 attempts only scoring two goals against a very physical Widener defense, conceding six goals in the second half as well — en route to dropping its first MAC game of the year 6-10 against the Pride.
The Falcons were not without momentum in the game however. Messiah (9-3, 7-1) dominated the face-off X with senior J.J. Miller's 16-19 performance. The Annapolis, Md. native added an unassisted goal off a face-off win with 9:58 to play in the second period, the second of Messiah's three-goal stretch to even the game at three. Miller was backed by attackers Brian Meenan (freshman) and James Baden (junior) from 13:04 to 6:45 in the second quarter.
The second half proved to be the turning point for the game. Widener (10-2, 8-0) opened the half with two goals in the first five minutes and ended the game with three straight tallies. At the same time, Messiah was shut down offensively, taking only 27 shots in the game — a meager number next to Widener's 50.
It was the Pride's defense proved to be the difference, however, as the NCAA's seventh-ranked unit shut down the Falcon attack. Messiah failed to produce a goal in the final period and did not convert on four man-up opportunities against the Pride, a season-low mark.
And when the offense failed to produce, the defense was forced to play extra minutes. They played well, as senior goalie Zach Cureton stopped 17 shots on cage, while the entire unit was not flagged for a penalty in the entire game.
But despite the performance, Widener's 13 of 18 shots on goal in the second half proved too much, as the Pride proved victorious on this day.
As numbing as an initial league loss can be following seven straight wins, Messiah will have to regroup quickly, as the team next faces Lebanon Valley College and head coach John Faus, former head coach of the University of North Carolina, Johns Hopkins and the 1998 NCAA Division III National Champions of Washington College.
Game time is for 7 p.m. at Anderson Field Thursday.
