XML Box Score York, PA - A match-up of rivals with recent and dramatic history did not disappoint on Tuesday, as York College scored near the end of the first-half to defeat Messiah College by the score of 1-0. Brendan Saberton collected the game-winner with just 42 seconds left before the break as the Spartans broke a four-game winless streak against the Falcons to move to 8-1.
Messiah, ranked No. 1 in both the NSCAA and
D3Soccer.com Top 25 Polls, falls to the same record after being shutout for the first time since Sept. 1 of last season. The win for York is their first victory over Messiah since 2009; the Falcons defeated the Spartans in 2010, 2011, and 2012 before moving past York on penalty kicks in the Sectional Semifinals of the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
As many expected, the two teams played end-to-end for most of the afternoon. Messiah created multiple chances to score early, perhaps none better than a pair of shots by
Joshua Wood in the in 17th and 19th minutes. The first attempt came on ball crossed from
Mike Kovach on the right side as the Falcons were attacking against the run of play. Wood and keeper Brad Schmidt met at the same time, with Schmidt blocking Wood's shot before his defense cleared the ball away. Moments later, Wood recovered from an initial bobble of a feed into the box, turning right side to fire a shot from 15 yards out that Schmidt punched over the at the last moment.
The game continued at a heavy pace, though Messiah appeared poised to stop the clock for a penalty kick in the 23rd minute after
Jeremy Payne was clipped on his cut inside the right baseline. The official ruled the tackle legal, though, as the Falcons settled for a corner kick on the play.
Messiah and York continued to battle through the midfield until, with just over 30 seconds left until the half, York's Brendan Saberton delivered the game's first goal in dramatic fashion. The Spartans gathered possession just past the circle as Tobi Iguade recovered a pass forward that hit off the center official. Passing forward again, Iguade found Saberton on the right side where the sophomore took a touch forward and launched a shot from 25 yards out. The strike may have caught West off-guard, as it went above his reach and tucked into the top-right corner of net.
The goal provided the Spartans a healthy dose of confidence, as the intermission arrived before Messiah could build a response.
In the second-half, the teams continued to play at a frenetic pace, though York did their best to cause congestion in the Falcons' midfield. Forced to attack primarily from the wings, Messiah still managed to create opportunities to score. Wood almost tied the game in the 54th minute, but he stumbled a bit in his attempt to settle a short serve from
Jack Thompson, settling for an off-balanced shot from 10 yards out that was saved by Schmidt.
With Messiah pressuring to even the score, York came close to adding a goal in the 81st minute on a shot by Charlie Versen; a diving save near the right post by
Brandon West kept the Falcons within a goal.
In the final eight minutes of action,
Jeremy Payne twice came close to putting the Falcons the board. In the 83rd minute, his header—the second-straight header by the Falcons off a cross from Kovach— bounced a foot wide of the left post. Minutes later Payne misfired on an even better chance, as his unchallenged side volley from the middle of the box went too high over the crossbar.
West collected five saves on 12 shots, with Schmidt matching with fives saves on the Falcons' 14 shots.
Messiah will look to rebound on Saturday, Sept. 21, when they host Misericordia University at 7:00 p.m.
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