Grantham, PA – Kirby Robbins and Samuel Ruiz Plaza each tallied first-half goals and No. 12 Messiah College outshot visiting Lycoming 20-5 in a 2-0 win on Tuesday night. The win moved the Falcons to 10-0-3 on the season, including 3-0 in the MAC Commonwealth. Lycoming fell to 6-5-3 overall and 1-2-1 in the conference.
 
The match-up of the past two MAC Commonwealth Champions lived up to the billing as play was end-to-end and intense for long periods of time. The game was unsettled for most of the first 15 minutes, but Messiah soon managed to control the pace and earn chances in their attacking third. In the 15th minute Kirby Robbins came close to putting the Falcons on the board when a blocked offering from Justin Brautigam came free just inside the 18-yard line. Robbins' ensuing shot went right to Josh Gildea, with the momentum knocking the keeper down before he scrambled to cover the ball.
 
Less than two minutes later, Robbins was not denied despite another great effort from Gildea. Robbins was played forward on the left side of midfield, and he split two defenders to get a look from 16 yards out. Gildea made a save on the shot, but the ball's momentum carried off a Lycoming defender and over the goal line for a 1-0 lead. The tally was his seventh of the season.
 
Now with the lead, Messiah kept the pressure on and nearly scored again on a shot by Nick West in the 24th minute. His attempt came off one of six first-half corners for the Falcons; his second effort came on a loose ball near the left post, but was turned away on the goal line.
 
In the 35th minute Messiah found a second goal, and it was by way of a brilliant moment from Ruiz Plaza. Jacob Bender played quick on a corner, sending a sharp pass to outside the box for Samuel, and he promptly fired a shot from 26 yards out on the right side that kept hooking and finally landed inside the far post. It was a perfect strike that earned shocked faces from Falcons and Warriors alike, and it gave Messiah a 2-0 advantage.
 
Altogether Messiah attempted 10 shots in the first half, with six total corners. They repeated those numbers in the final period despite not scoring additional goals. They weren't without chances, however, with Colby Thomas, David Alejos, and West all slipped behind the Lycoming defense at different times for great looks on the frame. But Gildea and the Lycoming defense came up big each time, either with a last-moment tackle or an impressive save.
 
Lycoming finished with just five shots, just four of which went on frame. Their most dangerous opportunities came on free kicks and long serves into the box, and the Messiah defense met the challenge each time.

Gildea finished with four saves for Lycoming, though he made a number of impressive plays on balls and actions within the box. Connor Bell made a single save for the Falcons.
 
As mentioned, the win moved Messiah to 3-0 in the MAC Commonwealth, good for first place. The Falcons will return to the field when they host Albright College on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. The game coincides with Messiah's Homecoming Day.