GRANTHAM, Pa. - The No. 18 Messiah men's soccer team needed just one goal in the 61st minute off the foot of Trevor Goodling to defeat the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen on Saturday night. Playing in front of 3,000-plus fans on Homecoming, the Falcons outshot the Dutchmen 25-5 in the match, putting eight shots on frame against just one from Lebanon Valley.
 
Messiah moves to 11-2-2 on the season and now holds a 5-0-0 record in the conference.
 
Generating Chances
The Falcons put together an exhilarating first half that did not feature a score. Messiah took a total of 13 shots in the first 45 minutes of the game, but were unable to find the back of the goal. Of Messiah's 13 shots in the first half, three attempts went on frame.
 
In the ninth minute, Lucas Kokolios sent a rip from outside on frame, but it was turned away. Shots on goal followed from Joseph King in the 14th minute and Nicholas Kane in the 32nd minute.
 
Outside of the shots on goal, the Falcons sent a number of dangerous crosses into the box that were unable to find the feet of teammates and the game remained scoreless into the second half.
 
Goodling's Goal Gives Falcons the Lead
The game remained scoreless through the first 15 minutes of the second half despite shots on frame from Ben Lefever in the 47th and 52nd minutes. Shay Quintin tried his luck from the outside, but had his shot in the 56th minute saved.
 
Just moments after Quintin's attempt, Trevor Goodling sent a shot toward goal, but his attempt was turned away as well.
 
In the 61st minute, the Falcons took the lead off a one-touch shot from Goodling. Micah Fitz started the build-up by carrying the ball down the right-side toward the end line. Fitz attempted a shot with a defender flanking him on his right side. The defender blocked the shot and the rebound ricochet to Joseph King at the corner of the box. King collected the rebound and slotted a pass into Goodling in the box.
 
Goodling wasted no time, using his right foot to score his team-high sixth goal of the season. The tally set off a celebration in the capacity crowd and gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
 
Messiah would hold that lead for the remaining half hour of the game to claim the one-goal victory.
 
In the Box Score
Messiah registered a total of 25 shots, while holding the Dutchmen to five shots in the game. Messiah was relatively even between the first and second halves with 13 shots in the first half and 12 shots after the break.
 
Nate Flanders made one save for Messiah in the 54th minute while the Lebanon Valley keeper, Sean Quirk was forced to make seven saves.
 
Lucas Kokolios led the Falcons with five shots while Luke Groothoff and Micah Fitz each attempted four. Ben Lefever and Trevor Goodling each put a team-high, two shots on goal in the victory.
 
What's Up Next
With the victory, Messiah has claimed seven-straight wins, including three-straight 1-0 triumphs. The Falcons will be back in action this Tuesday when they travel to Fredrick to take on the Hood Blazers at 7:00 p.m. Messiah owns an all-time record of 7-0-0 against the Blazers.