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Grantham, PA – A battle of two undefeated's ended with Messiah College victorious on Wednesday, as the Falcons defeated rival Dickinson College 2-0 on Shoemaker Field. The win moved No. 5 Messiah College to 6-0-1 on the year, with Dickinson falling to 6-1. The Red Devils had entered the game ranked No. 13 in the nation.
Separated by less than 15 miles, the match-up between Messiah and Dickinson carried extra attention because of the two schools' status as undefeated, ranked teams in the NCAA. Though fans were forced to wait an extra day due to the rain on Tuesday, the players did not disappoint.
At the start, both teams worked to establish possession and momentum through the midfield. Neither team managed a shot until more than 12 minutes had passed, a result of an even battle on both sides of the ball. However, as the half wore on, Messiah began to assert themselves in their attacking third of the field.
“We wanted to play high pressure,” head coach
Brad McCarty said. “I thought we started to find our rhythm in the first half and move the ball well.”
True to McCarty's recollection, Messiah did manage to wear down the Red Devil's midfield and defense. Four shots were fired by the Falcons in a six-minute stretch of the first half, with sophomore
Jack Thompson almost putting the Falcons in front with a header in the 22nd minute. His shot, off a cross by junior defender
Josh Kremers, went right into the hands of Dickinson keeper Cody Hickok.
Not to be put off, Messiah continued to keep their pressure on the visiting Red Devils. A solid back row led by senior
Luke Helmuth limited Dickinson to just one shot in the first half, while the Falcons' possessions continued to move to their midfielders and forward. In the 42nd minute, their offensive pressure finally broke through.
A long cross by Kremers—who earlier in the game found Thompson for a chance at a score— went to
Mike Kovach on the right side, with Kovach making a quick touch from the end line into the box. His pass went to the foot of senior
Dan Squire for a one-touch strike that went sailing over the left shoulder of Dickinson keeper Cody Hickok.
The goal was Squire's second on the season, with Kremers and Kovach each picking up their first assist. Messiah's 1-0 lead would carry into the intermission.
Now trailing, Dickinson continued to fight for any opportunity to even the score. But they would only collect three shots in the second half, thanks in large part to the Falcons' defense.
“We talked about limiting their opportunities, and limiting their effectiveness in the midfield,” McCarty said, mentioning the Falcons' focus on Dickinson midfielder Javier Mena. “They have a number of talented players, and we knew it would take our entire team to limit them.”
The Red Devils' best chance at a score came in the 54th minute of action. The visitors took advantage of a bounding ball through the Falcons' defense, with Shepherd Waldenberger racing ahead for the possession. He took control 40 yards out from the Messiah goal on the right side, finding himself alone with the goal far in front. With senior defender
Logan Thompson closing in from the left side, Waldenberger fired a shot across the field to the left post. Messiah keeper
Brandon West made a lunge to his left for the save, punching the ball over the end line to protect Messiah's lead.
The dive would account for West's lone save on the day, the one save needed to keep his team in front.
Though Dickinson tried to apply increased pressure as the second half dwindled, they would be unable to create any big threats.
The Falcons, meanwhile, managed to create space in the final minutes off the foot of sophomore
Jeremy Payne. With Messiah securing possession against the run of play, Payne placed a ball from the middle of the field to the left side for Thompson. Thompson's shot from eight yards out was blocked to beyond the 18 yard line, where senior
Aaron Myers regained possession and drove it to the end line. Cutting in on the left side, Myers crossed the ball on the ground and across the goal to Payne for the easy score.
The goal exemplified the Falcons' willingness to finish plays.
“We were able to win some balls out there, the result of footwork and our desire,” McCarty said. “That's what we expect each time we play.”
The win keeps Messiah undefeated on the season, with a match-up with Geneva College set for Saturday, September 22. With Messiah College's “Family Weekend” coinciding with the home game, the Falcons should expect a larger crowd than what was on hand for today's game.
“I wish we could have played last night, with more fans on hand to see it,” McCarty said of the uncharacteristic small crowd of just over 400 fans. “But I guess that's what happens when a game gets rained out.
“But I'm happy with today's result.”
