Grantham, PA – In a tale of two halves No. 1 Messiah College blew past rival York College to win 5-0 on Shoemaker Field. The Falcons' five goals ended a battle that was scoreless as late as the 56th minute.
 
The win moved Messiah to 9-0 on the season while York fell to the unfamiliar record of 3-2-3.
 
Jack Thompson opened the floodgates for Messiah in the 57th minute off a feed from Danny Brandt. Mike Kovach started the play for the Falcons on the right side when he slotted Brandt towards the corner of the 18. Brandt attacked into the box and drew the defense before passing square to Thompson for the impressive one-time strike past keeper Jack Pebole.
 
The goal was Thompson's fourth of the season, with Brandt picking up his fourth assist.
 
Just 49 seconds later Jeremy Payne doubled the lead off a beautiful serve from Jacob Bender. The cross came from the right side, and came down near the penalty spot where Payne leaped for a header inside the near post.
 
For Payne, it was his team-leading ninth goal of the season and for Messiah, it was just the second of five tallies on the night.
 
The Falcons waited until the 72nd to get their third goal, and it came from Kirby Robbins. It also came somewhat against the run of play as the back row earned a tackle and passed up the right side quickly to Raul Serrano. Serrano sent a long pass through the midfield to a streaking Robbins behind York's defense. He carried one-on-one with Pebole for a chip past the keeper's dive and over the goal line.
 
Robbins nearly added a second goal in the 81st minute, but his shot on an open goal from less than six yards off the left post sailed high. Despite the missed chance, Robbins redeemed himself just three minutes later with the Falcons' fourth goal. Colby Thomas nearly put the shot in himself, but he needed to fight off a tackle in the box and managed to lay the ball off to Robbins for the quick strike.
 
Robbins returned the favor to Thomas in the final minute of the game, stealing possession in the midfield for his teammate; Thomas attacked quickly to the attacking third and fired a rocket from the top of the box into the top of the net.
 
The goals by Robbins and Thomas were each the first of their careers, and also were the second, third, and fourth goals scored by Messiah's second unit this season. The five second-half goals were the most since they scored five in the second-half of last year's 9-1 win over Centenary in the NCAA First Round; the five goals are the most for Messiah in a single half since they scored six against Lycoming on Oct. 17, 2012.
 
The Falcons' onslaught also demolished the Spartans' hopes for an upset, though York did earn a number of dangerous opportunities before the intermission. Brandon West made two key saves for Messiah in the first-half, and also punched away a free kick that was played from the midfield to the six-yard line.
 
Even with under a minute to play before the half, Justin Kaiser nearly put a header through off a corner kick, but his attempt went wide of the near post.
 
By the end of the game, York's early chances seemed a distant memory.
 
Messiah finished with a 21-8 edge in shots, and they collected all three of their corners in the final 45 minutes.
 
The Falcons will next play on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Misericordia. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.