Allentown, PA – No. 1 Messiah College was upset by No. 20 Tufts University on Saturday, with Jumbos' goal in the first minute holding up as the difference in a 1-0 win.
 
The Jumbos scored a moment after a free kick was knocked away by the Falcon defense, as Jason Kayne pounded through a follow-up shot from outside the box. His shot was touched by keeper Brandon West but nonetheless went into the top left corner. The goal gave Tufts a lead after just 53 seconds to play.
 
Despite the early deficit, Messiah players and fans alike undoubtedly held hope for a game-tying goal to come at some point. But for the Falcons, this game was a collection of great chances and close shots that someway, somehow, did not get over the goal line.
 
"We made a couple of mistakes and (Tuft's) found a moment of quality," Messiah head coach Brad McCarty said. "They were a good team. They defended well and they were good up front.
 
"I thought we played well enough to advance. We defended well and created plenty of scoring opportunities. We just couldn't get one through."
 
Throughout the rest of the first-half Tuft's played somewhat defensive, but their single-target approach also allowed them to get behind the Messiah defense and create a few dangerous opportunities.
 
For the Falcons, they battled against a physical Jumbos' defense that closed quickly after first touches and did not allowed much space to the Messiah combinations. At the half, Tufts led in shots 5-3.
 
After the break the physical play continued, but so did the near misses for Messiah. A yellow card on the Jumbos set up a free kick from Brian Ramirez from 20 yards out, and his offering went closely by the right post.
 
Later, in the 67th minute, the Falcons came inches from tying the game. Jacob Bender played Mike Kovach to the right side, with his serve going sharply to the middle to Colby Thomas for a redirected shot past keeper Scott Greenwood. But defender Zach Halliday blocked the shot on the goal line, with the ball going straight up and nearly off the crossbar and out of play.
 
On the ensuing corner a long serve to the far post was headed back across the goal to Matt Kyne in the center of the box. His header was headed for the goal before a defender again blocked it off the goal line.
 
As the game continued, the Falcons' attack only increased. A terrific chance came in the 80th minute when Thomas got by his defender on the right side for a shot that was blocked. The rebound came right back to him and his second offering from the six-yard line went off the crossbar.
 
"I thought one or two of our chances were in, but (Tuft's) did a great job clearing them off the line," McCarty said. "Then, hitting the crossbar was a tough moment."
 
With under 10 minutes to play Jeremy Payne fired a shot from the right side of the box that seemed a sure thing, but teammate Benji Kennel couldn't get out of the scrum in time and it deflected off his shoulder before cross the goal line. The rebound came to Kovach, but his shot was deflected once again by the Jumbo defense.
 
Messiah continued to pressure until the final seconds, and had a final corner by Jack Thompson in the final seconds cleared out.
 
"I thought we were dangerous in both halves, especially on set piece and in front of their goal," McCarty said. "We put a target up front in the final 15 minutes and created even more chances. We just couldn't find the net."
 
The Falcons and Jumbos finished tied with 12 shots apiece, with West collecting five saves. More to that point, West made a number of great plays to keep Messiah's deficit at just a single goal.
 
"Brandon sometimes doesn't get the recognition and respect that other goalkeepers get," McCarty said, commenting on West's terrific showing. "He is a tremendous goalie, and it showd today with how well he played."
 
The loss completed the Falcons' season at 21-1-1, and their two-year run as Division III Champions comes to an end.
 
Tufts moved to 14-2-4, and will play the winner of Monday's game between No. 15 Ohio Wesleyan and No. 16 Christopher Newport in the National Semifinal on Dec. 5.
 
Messiah's senior class finishes their careers with a four-year record of 86-3-5 (.941), including three conference championships and two national titles.
 
"More than anything, I'm proud of the way we played today," McCarty said. "This is not a result we wanted, but I thought we played great."