Grantham, PA – The Falcons edged the Lions of Albright College in overtime Wednesday afternoon by a 9-8 score. Both teams played to an 8-8 score at the end of regulation.
 
The overtime winner came early in the period after the Falcons killed off a penalty; Drew Pagenkopf dodged and found Tyler Goglio for the game winner. With the victory, Messiah improves to 9-3 and 4-1 in the Commonwealth while Albright falls to 10-3 and 3-2 in the conference.

The Lions started fast and built early momentum in the first quarter with the first scores of the game. Scores from Phillip Potter and Ryan Turner gave the Lions an early 2-0 lead.
 
Messiah responded in an immense way with four unanswered goals. The streak started on a man-up opportunity when Andrew Harris found Tyler Goglio on the left wing and Goglio ripped a shot for the score.
 
Next, Ryan Van Bochoven drew two defenders and found an open Ryan Mayer who made the Lions pay with a goal. The third goal for the Falcons came from an injured Will Franken. Franken received a pass from his brother, Matthew Franken and Will sniped a shot past the Lion goal keeper.
 
The final goal of the streak came from Drew Pagenkopf who dodged across the middle and found the back of the net and gave the Falcons a 4-2 lead. Albright responded and slowed the Falcons momentum with a goal of their own from Phillip Potter and trailed Messiah 4-3 at the end of the first half.
 
The third quarter was the highest scoring quarter of the game with seven combined goals from both teams. The Falcons scored the first three goals of the quarter and led 7-3 with seven minutes left in the quarter.
 
Andrew Harris scored the first goal of the quarter unassisted. Next, long stick midfielder Chris Ruger cleared the ball for the Falcons, perfected a couple of dodges, and scored an amazing goal for Messiah.
 
The third goal of the quarter came from Messiah's Justin Bradley when Bradley delivered a quick split dodge and buried the ball in the back of the cage.
 
Half way through the quarter Albright scored four-straight goals and evened the score at seven-a-piece. Goals by the Lions came from T.J. Holsotn, Ryan Eber, and James Egleston.
 
Messiah struck first to being the fourth quarter with an unassisted goal from Drew Pagenkopf and the Falcons took a 8-7 lead with 12:25 remaining. Albright responded with a goal three minutes later from Ryan Turner and tied the score at eight with 9:31 remaining in regulation.
With 40 second remaining in the game, the Falcons committed a penalty and gave the Lions an extra-man opportunity. Messiah played excellent man-down defense and shut the Lions down to end the first quarter.
 
The overtime period started with the Lions still on an extra-man opportunity. Once the Falcons killed off the penalty they cleared the ball into the offensive end. With a 1:45 remaining in overtime, Drew Pagenkopf dodged, drew a double-team, and found Tyler Goglio for the game-winning goal.
 
The Falcons will next play this Saturday when they travel to Widener University at 7:00 pm for another Commonwealth match-up.