Owings Mills, MD - Two overtimes and 26 shots were not enough for No. 1 Messiah College as they couldn't get on the board against Stevenson in a scoreless tie on Tuesday night. The Falcons held territory for much of the night but battled swirling winds and the Mustangs' defensive approach to the draw.
 
The Falcons collected 10 of their 26 shots in the overtime periods alone, with a few of them nearly ending the game. The most exciting offering was Colby Thomas' shot in the 104th minute which appeared to be the game-winner; his crashing shot from the six-yard line went off the back of Adam Diabagate on the goal line.
 
Thomas nearly ended the game 10 minutes earlier, but his sliding shot near the left post off a serve from Jack Thompson was blocked over the end line.
 
Amid Messiah's attempts to avoid the draw, Stevenson managed to create a few dangerous counters. Perhaps none was better than their attack against the run of play in the 105th minute. Pushing down left side of the midfield Adnan Alic sent a low serve to the far post where Yianni Sarioglou got inside his defender for a header that went a yard wide of the post.
 
Messiah's final chance to score came in the 109th minute off a cross from the right side by Mike Kovach. The wind carried the cross across the box to Thompson on the left side, but his header back across the goal went just wide of the open frame.
 
Long before the overtime periods, one could have guessed it would be a close game. The first-half was played with relatively little excitement, and it appeared the Falcons were troubled to settle possession against the combination of a strong winds and a fast turf.
 
Messiah held just a 5-0 edge in shots heading into the break, but their play in the second-half was much more efficient and aggressive. They generated 11 more shots despite Stevenson's collapsed defense, with two saves collected by keeper Ryan Callinan and two other shots blocked by defenders.
 
As the half wore on, the chances even improved. In the 68th minute Jeremy Payne sent a pass square in the box to Kovach, but his shot from within 10 yards was blocked. Seven minutes later Carter Robbins' low cross from the left end line went to the middle of the box, but Payne's shot went wide of the near post.
 
In the final minutes of regulation Messiah was unable to capitalize on multiple corners, and Stevenson earned a last-second free kick from 25 yards out that proved even more dangerous. Thankfully, keeper Brandon West grabbed the ball in the air to preserve the score and send the game into the extra sessions.
 
The overtime game for Messiah in the regular-season was their first since Sept. 6 of last season when they won over SUNY Oneonta 2-1. The double-overtime scoreless draw was their first in the regular-season since Sept. 1, 2012, also against SUNY Oneonta.
 
The Falcons (13-0-1, 3-0-1) will next play their Homecoming Day—Saturday, Oct. 18— when they host Albright College. The game will be played at 6:00 p.m.