Reading, PA – Messiah College defender
Shay Quintin scored his first career goal in dramatic fashion on Wednesday when he put through a game-winner in double-overtime to help the No. 21 Falcons defeat Alvernia Unviersity, 2-1. The golden goal came off an assist from
Nick West and was deflected in the box just enough to keep goalie Zach Rider from getting his gloves on it.
The win moved Messiah to 8-0-4 overall and 2-0 in the MAC Commonwealth, while Alvernia fell to 1-9 overall.
The score from Quintin was also a moment of redemption as he was whistled for the foul that led to a Crusader penalty kick in the 78th minute. The ensuing goal off the foot of Austin Young—just the fifth goal of the season for the Crusaders—knotted the game at 1-1 and set-up the overtime periods.
Messiah took two shots in the first overtime, including a rip from
Jacob Bender in the 97th that would have ended the game if not for an incredible save from Rider. He used every part of his six-foot two-inch frame to tip Bender's strike off its path and off the crossbar.
That dramatic play from Rider helped the Crusaders get through the first overtime and into the final possible period, but
Nick West set up the Messiah win when he pushed down the right side against the run of play and turned in toward the post. He drew Rider to his angle before dropping a pass back to the middle of the box where Quintin ran on for a shot; his offering ricocheted off a Crusader defender and beyond Rider's dive.
The double-overtime win was the second in three years for Messiah over Alvernia, with both of those decisions come on the Crusader's home turf; in 2014 Messiah also won in double-overtime at Alvernia, 1-0 off a header from Jeremy Payne.
Quintin's goal came long after Bender had put the Falcons up 1-0 in the 11th minute. He beat Rider with a perfectly placed strike from 20 yards out on the left side of the midfield, with the ball tucking just inside the right side of the post.
Kirby Robbins collected the assist on the goal thanks to a deft pass through the Crusder's bunker defense.
Messiah held that 1-0 lead deep into the second-half, even as they had the better set of chances to put another goal on the board. Nevertheless, they found themselves with just that one-goal advantage when Alvernia's Ayinde Cole pushed in transition into the Falcons' box. The ball was just about to be cleared away near the left post by the Falcons, but it suddenly came loose and went across the box to where Quintin was recovering to his mark. With Austin Young about to put a shot on the open net Quintin attempted a tackle but got whistled for a foul.
Young stepped up and put the penalty kick past Conner Bell to tie the game.
As mentioned, that was just the fifth goal for Alvernia this season, though they were now in position to earn an upset over the Falcons. But, as it turned out, they wouldn't even get a tie as the Falcons continued to hold territory and find the difference-making moment.
Messiah finished with a 16-6 edge in shots, with nine of their attempts going on frame. Rider finished with seven saves, with Bell grabbing four his own in another solid performance in goal for Messiah.
Messiah will play their third of three-straight road games on Saturday when they travel to play Washington and Lee in Lexington, Va. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.
