XML Box Score Grantham, PA – Messiah College's first-ever match with Utica College did not start as the Falcons' hoped, but it finished well enough. Messiah scored twice in their season-opener on Friday, overcoming an early score from the Pioneers to come from behind for a 2-1 win.
Benji Kennel netted the game-winner for Messiah in the 72nd minute, as he put a header on
Aaron Myers' corner kick in the air and past keeper Anthony Caruso. His clean redirection came near the right post and set off a celebration from his teammates and the nearly 1,300 fans in attendance.
The score gave Messiah a lead they would not relinquish and, ultimately, kept the No. 1 one Falcons from being upset on the season's first day.
At the start of the game, Utica didn't take long to settle in before Jonathon Peterson ran down a cleared ball sent over the Falcons' defense. Peterson broke past Messiah's
Matt Kyne and
Carter Robbins and went one-on-one with keeper
Brandon West on top of the 18-yard line. A low strike to the far-left post eluded West's dive and bounded into the goal for a quick 1-0 lead. The goal was scored just 1:04 into the game.
Down 1-0, the Falcons quickly answered. In the 5th minute of play,
Jeremy Payne took a pass up the right sideline in front of the Falcons' bench and attacked to the corner of the 18. Pushing past his defender and also cutting into the box, Payne sent a forceful shot over a charging Caruso and into the top of the goal. His equalizer came on one of just seven shots the Falcons in the first-half, as Utica did their part to keep the Falcons from adding goals before the break.
Still, the Falcons did play with most of the possession in the first-half—a trend that continued after the intermission. In the final 45 minutes, Messiah collected 14 more shots and took 14 corner kicks. They finished the game with 20 corner kicks, one of which led to Kennel's winner.
The Falcons came close to adding more goals in the final 18 minutes, perhaps no chance closer than a free kick by
Jack Thompson from the right edge of the penalty box. His perfect shot was headed for the left side of the goal before being literally headed away at the last moment by defender Kevin McAllister.
Still, Messiah managed to hold Utica to just two shots in the second-half—six for the game—en route to the 2-1 victory.
The win also came in Messiah's first-ever men's soccer match-up with Utica, an interesting note considering it was the Falcons' 910th game in program history.
With the decision, Messiah moves to 1-0 on the season. Utica falls to 0-1.
The Falcons will turn around quickly to host Medaille College on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Mavericks lost to Franklin & Marshall on Friday by a 2-0 score.
