ANNVILLE, Pa. – The No. 2 Messiah men's soccer team used goals from five different scorers to claim a 5-1 victory over the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen on Tuesday afternoon. The Falcons struck for two goals in the first half thanks to tallies from David Alejos and Lucas Kokolios in the 17th and 23rd minute, respectively.
 
After the break, Nick West scored his 20th goal of the season in the 65th minute off a free kick before Trevor Goodling and Darryl Daniels both notched their first career goals in the final 20 minutes of the match. West's tally marked the 12th-straight match with a goal for the senior. His goal scoring streak is now the fourth longest in NCAA Division III history.
 
Messiah controlled the pace of the match, attempting 26 shots against just five for the Dutchmen while also maintaining the majority of possession.
 
Messiah moves to 11-0-2 overall and 4-0-0 in the MAC Commonwealth while the Dutchmen (6-4-1 overall, 2-1-0 conference) are handed their first conference loss of the season.
 
Building a Lead
After Jonathan Groothoff had a dangerous chance saved in the fourth minute, David Alejos found the back of the net to get Messiah on the board in the 17th minute. Lucas Kokolios sent a ball from the middle to the far left-side that sprung Alejos free and forced the LVC keeper to come off his line. With the goalie out of the goal, Alejos slotted a shot into the right-side of the goal for his third tally of the season.
 
After assisting on the first goal of the match, it was Kokolios' turn to find the back of the net in the 23rd minute. Jonathan Groothoff fired a shot from the right that forced the keeper to make a save. Groothoff's strike was too hot to handle and the rebound found Kokolios in the middle of the box for the easy finish. The goal gave Messiah a 2-0 advantage just past the midpoint of the first-half.
 
The Falcons' carried the 2-0 lead into halftime despite testing the Dutchmen defense often in the final 20 minutes of the period.
 
Extending a Streak
Nick West entered Tuesday's match averaging nearly six shots per game, but was held shotless in the first 45 minutes of the match. That changed in the second-half as West sent five attempts toward goal in the first 20 minutes of the half. The last of those attempts found the back of the net on a free kick in the 65th minute.
 
West curled a free kick into the left-corner from just outside the box on the left-side after earning the free kick just moments earlier with a long run in front of the Messiah bench. The goal marked the 12th-straight game that West has found the back of the net, extending the program records he already owns. West now has the fourth-longest streak in the history of NCAA Division III men's soccer, three shy of the all-time record of 15. West also extended his national lead in goals scored with 20 on the year, four more than Ramapo's Joseph Fala (16) and St. Norbert's Ben Prange (16).
 
A Pair of Firsts
With Messiah leading 3-0, a pair of Falcons scored their first career goals in the final 20 minutes of the match. In the 73rd minute, Micah Fitz sent a cross from the left-side to Trevor Goodling hustling through the middle of the box. Goodling ran onto the cross, controlled the pass, and then finished to notch the first goal of his career.
 
The Dutchman scored on a free kick off the foot of Caleb Cekella in the 78th minute, but Darryl Daniels countered with a quality run down the left-side for the first tally of his career. Trevor Goodling sent a ball down the left-side to Daniels who carried half the field before finishing with his left-foot from inside the box to put Messiah up 5-1. Daniels' goal capped of the scoring for the match and Messiah earned a 5-1 victory.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will next take the road on Saturday when they travel to Reading to take on the Alvernia Golden Wolves at 7:00 p.m. on Alvernia's homecoming. The Golden Wolves are 5-8-2 this season and hold a 1-2-0 record in the MAC Commonwealth after a 3-2 loss against Lycoming this afternoon.