Grantham, PA – Messiah men's soccer responded to a road loss at Lycoming with a convincing Homecoming Day win over Arcadia, 3-0. The defense allowed just two shots as they collected their seventh shutout.
 
Messiah's play was crisp throughout and they held a large majority of territory throughout the night. As the game quickly settled the Falcons found great chances to score, and Nick West set up their first tally in the 19th minute.
 
West, who just moments earlier had a serve from the end line cleared away on the six-yard line, again got inside the box on the right side and sent a low cross toward the goal. The ball was about to roll out the backside before Danny Rowe snuck in behind on a slide to push the ball through.
 
Exactly four minutes later the Falcons added another goal. Benji Kennel corralled possession in the midfield and quickly played David Alejos down the left side. He just as quickly turned the corner and slotted back for a crashing Will Cochran. The shot from Cochran was deftly chipped over the slide of keeper Chris Watson and into the net.
 
Messiah held the lead through the half and soon after they were again knocking on the door. Cochran was in the middle of a handful of chances, with two different shots inside the box getting saved and blocked on the goal line, respectively.
 
The chances were a sign of things to come, and in the 63rd minute Samuel Ruiz Plaza put the Falcons up 3-0 with a loud goal from 25 yards out. Robby Johnson found Ruiz Plaza with a square pass from the right side, and Samuel faced to the goal before rocketing a shot inside the top corner.
 
Despite giving up the goal, Chris Watson was solid in the net for the Knights and he finished with eight saves. Connor Bell made two saves on the Knights' only two shots.
 
The win pushed Messiah to 9-4-1, including 3-1 in the MAC Commonwealth. Arcadia fell to 8-4-3 overall and 2-1-2 in the conference.
 
Messiah will next play on Tuesday, Oct. 20 when they travel to Widener University for an evening game at 7:00 p.m.