XML Box Score Grantham, PA – No. 1 Messiah College scored four goals after the break to earn a 4-0 win over Catholic University Saturday night on Shoemaker Field.
Jeremy Payne scored a pair, his fourth and fifth goals of the season.
The Falcons faced aggressive pressure and mostly straight-up positioning from Catholic early in the game, with Catholic attempting four shots. None of their shots went on frame in the period, though Hunter Horvath's booming attempt in the 25th minute sailed just wide of the top left corner of the goal.
Messiah attempted 10 shots of their own, but Torsten Meuschke made two terrific saves to keep the game scoreless. Meuschke and the Cardinals' defense also did a great job to stifle seven first-half corners from Messiah.
In the second-half, however, Messiah's relentless pressure finally broke through. Less than three minutes in
Jack Thompson cut in along the left end line and slotted back to
Danny Brandt in the box. Brandt's shot was saved by Meuschke but the rebound came to Payne for the quick strike and score.
Horvath almost answered for Catholic a minute later, but his shot from inside the box went wide of the left post. That would be Catholic's lone chance to tie the game, as 10 minutes later
Benji Kennel put a header on a corner kick from
Jack Thompson past the near post for a 2-0 lead.
Now leading 2-0, Messiah took advantage of the open field and created one chance after another. In the 64th minute one of those chances came after Payne stripped the ball from the left back and took it into the box for a perfect shot to the far post and a 3-0 lead. The goal was his fifth of the season.
Less than a minute later the Falcons' barrage continued.
Bryant Myer pushed forward through the midfield and slotted
Danny Brandt on a run into the box. Brandt reached out and poked it past Meuschke and over the goal line.
The goal was Brandt's fourth of the season, already half his total from his rookie campaign last year.
Messiah finished with a 23-11 edge in shots and astounding 13-1 advantage in corner kicks. They moved to 6-0 with the win while Catholic fell to 1-4.
The Falcons will next play on Tuesday, Sept. 16 when they play host to Dickinson College at 7:00 p.m.
