Box Score
Grantham, PA – Messiah College defeated Lycoming College 6-0 on Wednesday night, the third time this season they've scored at least six goals in a single game. For a team averaging over three-and-a-half goals per game, this may not seem all that impressive—until this consideration: on Wednesday, the Falcons scored all six of their goals in the second half.
The offensive outburst seemed improbable at the game's intermission, as the Falcons and Warriors were locked in a scoreless tie. The game remained 0-0 until the 55th minute when sophomore
Brian Ramirez sent home a penalty kick attempt to put Messiah up 1-0. The opportunity came after junior
Joshua Wood was taken down in the box just moments prior.
The game remained in Messiah's favor—by the single goal—until the 79th minute of play when
Benji Kennel scored his second goal of the season. At the time, the goal seemed to secure momentum for Messiah as the game clock was winding down.
While Kennel's score certainly did just that, it also broke open a floodgate that included four more scores before the final whistle was blown.
Initial review of the Falcons' record books suggest this may be the first time in program history that the team notched six scores in the final 45 minutes of a game decided in regulation.
“When the clock started to get late, Lycoming really pushed hard to get a game-tying goal,” Messiah head coach
Brad McCarty said of the Warriors' play before Kennel's score. “By pushing forward, they allowed us to get some space up the field and take advantage of our opportunities near the goal.”
True to his point, the Falcons scored five goals in the final 11:02 of the contest, with Kennel's goal being followed up with scores from
Jack Thompson (2), Wood, and
Jeremy Payne. In the end, the goals added up to Messiah's fourteenth win on the season and—their sixth in the Commonwealth Conference.
The game's first 54 minutes did not include any scores for Messiah, but that didn't mean they were being evenly matched. The Warriors—to their credit, as the scoreless period proved—played primarily with all 10 of their field players in front of the Falcons' midfielders and forwards. The strategy frustrated the Falcons' shots, even though six of their 13 first-half shots went on goal.
In the 55th minute, however, Wood was taken down in a box to set up the penalty kick for Ramirez. The goal would put the Falcons in front, while simultaneously forcing the Warriors to think about adjusting their game plan.
With around 15 minutes left to play, Lycoming began to push forward in hopes of finding an equalizer. With the Messiah defense turning away their hurried play, Kennel scored at the end of a sharp return up field for the Falcons. His goal was assisted by junior
Aaron Myers, with his cross from near the left end line going back towards the midfield for Kennel.
As mentioned, the goal was just the beginning of an impressive offensive streak for the Falcons.
“Any time you're in a 0-0 game or a 1-0 game, both teams feel like they need to make plays to finish strong,” McCarty said. “Tonight, our guys were able to respond to Lycoming's challenge, and our patience and determination paid off for us in the end.”
At the game's conclusion, the statistics certainly suggested a one-sided affair: Messiah attempted 31 shots against the Warriors' three shots, while also attempting 12 more corners (13-1).
With the loss Lycoming falls to 4-7-2, including 1-4-1 in the Commonwealth. Messiah, ranked No. 2 in the most recent NSCAA Top 25 Poll, improves to 14-0-1 overall and 6-0 in the conference.
Messiah will next play on Saturday, Oct. 20 when they play host to Widener University at 6:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.
