Box Score
By Matt McDermott, GoMessiah.com student manager
Grantham, PA — The third quarter has proved to be the Falcons' toughest quarter to prove; especially when the game is close at halftime.
Thursday's game against Lebanon Valley College had a different outcome.
After conceding two straight goals and barely holding on to a 4-3 lead with one minute left in the first half, Messiah flew by the Dutchmen with nine straight goals — including seven in the third quarter — finishing off LVC by a 15-5 score Thursday.
Coming off one of the season's slowest offensive games yet (a 6-10 loss at league-leading Widener University), Messiah (10-3, 8-1) came charging at the start of both halves against Lebanon Valley (5-9, 3-6), registering 33 of the team's 48 shots in the first and third quarters combined.
With one minute remaining in the first half, sophomore Kyle Sproles scored his second goal of the day and 14th goal of the season. Senor J.J. Miller won the ensuing face-off and charged to goal, scoring his 17th goal of the season, the most by a Messiah midfielder.
Freshman Brian Meenan started the seven-goal third quarter with back-to-back scores at the 13:37 and 12:41 marks, proving to have the hot stick against the Dutchmen. In just his third start of the season, Meenan scored a season-high four goals.
Meenan was backed by two goals from leading goal-scorer Keven Schellenburg, charting his 25th and 26th goals of the season in the third.
Messiah's defense conceded just two goals in the second half on only 11 shots, continuing its strong run of play in the MAC.
After locking up a MAC Tournament berth with the win, Messiah looks to lock up the second seed and first-round bye in the playoffs with a win over Lycoming College Tuesday.
Game time is set for 4 p.m. in Williamsport, Pa.
