Grantham, PA - Matthew Franken scored three times and Tyler Goglio added a pair of goals in a 9-6 win over Susquehnna University on Wednesday afternoon. The Falcons led 3-1 at the half before tallying another six goals after the break. Susquehanna pulled within 7-5 with 5:38 to play but a goal by Dean Patton with 59 seconds on the clock sealed the decision.

Matthew Franken tallied his first of three goals to begin the game and gave Messiah an early 2-0 lead. Next, Tyler Goglio added another goal for Messiah when he dodged around the crease and made a precise shot on a tough angle.
 
The Crusaders responded in the beginning of the second quarter with a goal from Greg Rabiecki to bring the score to 2-1. Susquehanna committed a penalty with a little over six minutes to play in the half and Blake Knobloch made them pay with a high velocity goal on the man up opportunity.
 
Once again the Crusaders began a quarter with the first goal when Alec Tzaneteas scored to begin the third quarter. However, the Falcons answered with three straight goals from Luke Hall and Matthew Franken (2). Luke Hall fell during his dodge, regained his footing, and switched to his left hand for the spectacular goal.
 
Matthew Franken also tallied a remarkable goal during the scoring streak when he jumped and brought in a wild pass with one hand, shot, and scored.
 
Susquehanna slowed Messiah's momentum down when Alec Tzaneteas found Kade MacGregor for a goal with one second remaining in the third quarter.
 
During the fourth quarter Trey Hanshew scored from the crease from an excellent feed by Ryan Van Bochoven for a 7-3 lead. The Crusaders made the game interesting by tallying back-to-back goals from Alex Tzaneteas and Andrew Porzio.
 
Leading 7-5, Tyler Goglio beat his defender and extended Messiah's lead to 8-5 with 2:36 remaining. Susquehanna kept attacking and earned a goal with 1:07 remaining from Nick Reardon. Messiah held a tight 8-6 lead when Dean Patton secured a ground ball from the face-off and took the ball to the cage for game sealing goal.
 
Statistically, the Falcons bested the Crusaders in shots (36-23), shots on goal (19-10), face-offs (10-8), and committed fewer turnovers (17-19).
 
The Falcons will be back in action on Apr. 2 when they travel to Albright to take on the Lions in their MAC Commonwealth opener.