Pittsburgh, PA – A set piece from just over the midfield line led to a stunning goal with just seconds to play as Carnegie Mellon upset No. 3 Messiah College, 4-3. William Webb got behind Messiah keeper Connor Bell and headed through the game-winner. Ten seconds later the game ended as the Falcons dropped a tense, back-and-forth contest.
 
The restart was set-up after Ryan Steinbaugh was led over the midfield line in a quick change of possession. Bryant Myer ran him down and was whistled for his tackle, and Carnegie Mellon was given the kick with the clock running out. The Tartans loaded the box as Greg Allen drilled his offering to the center of the six. A group of players came together and Bell ran off his line and tried to knock the ball away, but the ball went just over his shoulder and Webb redirected it into the net.
 
The tally set off a huge celebration by the Tartans' players, and moments later the final whistled sounded.
 
Webb finished with a hat-trick against the Falcons, with each of his goals either tying the game or giving his team the lead. He also assisted on his team's fourth tally, giving him seven points in the match.
 
The dramatic finish seemed appropriate considering the two teams traded blows from the very start. An early penalty kick by Webb put the Tartans up 1-0, but Messiah answered with goals from both Danny Rowe and Nick West to go up 2-1.
 
Seven minutes before halftime Webb tallied again, thanks in part to a breakdown by the Falcons. The Tartans turned quickly in the midfield and passed ahead to Webb, and he ran onto the ball as two Messiah defenders hesitated to close the space. Webb touched once before firing from just outside the 18. His shot went on the turf directly to starting keeper Jonathan Weaver, but he mishandled the bounce and the ball scooted through his legs.
 
Less than 10 minutes into the second-half Carnegie Mellon regained the lead, and once again Webb was in the middle. His corner kick went low and hard into the box where Jimmy Jameson quickly headed it through.
 
Messiah managed to fight back again, and they tied the score in the 75th minute. David Alejos tallied the equalizer, doing so with a quick turn and strike from 20 yards out in the midfield. It was his first collegiate goal.
 
The Falcons came close to going ahead in the proceeding minutes, but they could not get one through. Eric Bykowsky made a nice save on one offering, a shot by Jacob Bender in the 80th minute. In the end Messiah finished with six more shots (15-9) and five more corners (12-7) than Carnegie Mellon, but they were on the wrong side of the score.
 
The four goals allowed are the most allowed by Messiah in almost exactly 17 years; the Falcons last let up four goals in a 4-3 loss to Eastern on Sept. 1, 1998. 
 
Messiah (1-1) will be off until next weekend when they again play two games across Friday and Saturday, this time at home on Shoemaker Field. They will play Randolph College on Friday at 7:00 p.m.