XML Box Score Glassboro, NJ - Messiah's season-opening match with The College of New Jersey did not start well, but it ended fine as
Danny Brandt's go-ahead tally in the 69th minute held up in a 2-1 win for the Falcons. Brandt's game-winner came long after some early fireworks saw the teams each score a goal before the game was even six minutes old.
In a moment of déjà vu for Messiah, the new season started with a quick deficit; Falcons fans may remember a goal by Utica's Jonathan Peterson that put Messiah down 0-1 just 1:04 into the 2013 season. This year, it was TCNJ's Clayton Flon in the 5th minute that put Messiah in a hole.
Flon's goal came after a momentary breakdown by the Falcons' defensive transition, with
Brandon West's initial save failing to keep Flon from following up for a second attempt and the score.
But,
like they did last year, the Falcons answered quickly.
Bryant Myer did the honors this time, making good on a free kick from 25 yards out to knot the game at 1-1. The goal also seemed to settle down the No. 1 Falcons, as they went on to outshoot the Lions 9-2 from then until halftime.
Messiah continued to control possession through the second-half, collecting 16 more shots in the final frame while allowing zero to the Lions. Still, the teams remained tied until midway through the second-half when
Danny Brandt made good on a feed from
Jeremy Payne for a goal to the lower left corner of the net.
The score made up for a shot by Brandt in the first-half that hit the crossbar, and simultaneously forced TCNJ to open up their compressed midfield in an attempt to even the score.
Despite their dominant possession from that point forward—and frequent opportunities in transition—the Falcons could not add another score and needed to hold their narrow advantage to the end.
The win for Messiah accounted for their fourth-straight in season openers, with their last loss coming in 2010 to Hobart College 2-1. They will turn around quickly this weekend and play host Rowan University on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
