GRANTHAM, Pa. - Nick West collected his 11th goal of the season on a free kick in the 51st minute from 25 yards out to give the No. 1 Messiah men's soccer team a 1-0 victory over the York Spartans on Shoemaker Field on Thursday night. Messiah moves to 6-0-1 after the closely contested victory. In the contest, Messiah outshot the Spartans by just four (14-10) and both teams had quality chances throughout.
 
As mentioned, West's tally is his 11th of the season and he is currently tied for the national lead in goals scored.
 
Messiah will next take the field on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Misericordia University to take on the Cougars at 3:30 p.m.
 
Scoreless Start
The Falcons and Spartans played the opening half scoreless despite 11 combined shots in the first 45 minutes. The Falcons put two shots on frame, but York's keeper Billy Bridegum made a pair of saves to keep the Falcons off the board. Between the pipes for Messiah, Conner Bell was also tested with two shots on target in the first nine minutes. Bell turned both attempts away and the contest remained scoreless at the break.
 
The scoreless first-half, is the third time this year that the Falcons went into the break tied 0-0.
 
Dangerous Moments
Outside of the attempts on goal, both the Falcons and Spartans had opportunities throughout the opening portions of the game. In the 12th minute, Messiah earned their second corner of the night and after playing short to Joseph King, a long ball was sent to the far post. The service found the head of Reid Ruark, but his shot went just outside the left post.
 
Just four minutes, it looked for a moment that the Spartans would take a 1-0 lead on a rip from forward Zion Friday. After beating two defenders toward the middle of the field, Friday let a left-footed strike fly from the top of the box. His attempt sailed over the crossbar and the game remained tied.
 
With Messiah leading 1-0 late in the contest, York had a number of nerve-racking moments for Falcons' fans. The most dangerous of the late chances came in the 75th minute when York's Keith Witherell had his shot tipped by Conner Bell into the crossbar before being cleared out of danger by Messiah.
 
No. 11 for West
Messiah would find their goal in the early portion of the second-half off the foot of their leading goal scorer, Nick West. In the 51st minute of a scoreless match, York sent a goal kick into the midfield. Joseph King headed the goal kick back into the Falcons' attacking third over the York defensive line. As West attempted to run onto the header from King, he was tripped up outside of the box and earned a free kick in a dangerous spot on the field.
 
West stepped up to take the kick from 25 yards out and sent a ball over the wall and under the dive of the York keeper toward the left post for his 11th goal of the season. Nick West is now tied with Ryan Vazquez (The College of New Jersey) for the most goals in the country.
 
What's Up Next
The victory moves the Falcons to 6-0-1 on the season and the Falcons will next take the field on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Misericordia to take on the Cougars. Messiah and Misericordia have met eight times all-time with the Falcons holding a 7-0-1 overall record, including a 1-0, overtime victory against the Cougars last season (Sept. 23, 2017).