FREDRICK, Md. - The Hood Blazers netted equalizers in the 44th and 61st minutes to tie the game at 1-1 and 2-2, respectively, but the Messiah men's soccer team tallied a pair of goals in the final 15 minutes to early a 4-2 victory on a dreary Tuesday night. Four different Falcons found the back of the net on the evening with Luke Groothoff getting the scoring started in the 30th minute. After the Blazers scored late in the first half, Messiah and Hood were level at 1-1 heading to the second period.

After the break, Messiah connected in the 61st minute when Trevor Goodling found Lucas Kokolios, but Hood's equalizer came less than a minute later. The goal from Jaylen Poisal tied the game at 2-2 in the 62nd minute.

The Falcons continued to pressure, scoring the eventual game-winning goal in the 76th minute on Matt McDonald's first career goal before adding an insurance goal from Grant Johnson in the 85th minute. Johnson's goal was also the first of his career.

With the victory, Messiah clinches a spot in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament, moves to 12-2-2 on the season, and improves 6-0-0 in the conference. They will be back in action on Friday night when they travel to Albright. The match is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.

Taking a Lead
The Falcons provided steady pressure throughout the first 30 minutes of the contest, registering 10 shots over the first half hour of play. The Falcons put half of those first 10 attempts on frame, but Hood's keeper Isaac Coeto Jr. turned the looks away.

The Falcons stuck in the 30th minute off the foot of Luke Groothoff. Carrying from the midfield, Groothoff found some space with the ball on his right foot from outside the box and ripped a shot through two defenders toward the right post. He beat a diving Coeto Jr. for his fourth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.

Hood Equalizes Before the Break
Messiah kept the one-goal lead for the next 13-plus minutes and it looked like that 1-0 advantage would hold into the half, but the Blazers earned a corner kick in the 44th minute and converted on a header from Ryan Waugh. The goal was assisted by Jaylen Poisal on the delivery from the corner and leveled the game at 1-1 in the 44th minute.

Trading Tallies
Messiah would take the lead back in the 61st minute off the foot of Lucas Kokolios. With the game tied 1-1, Trevor Goodling received a pass from Groothoff at the top of the box and found Kokolios on the left side. After side-stepping a defender and moving toward the middle of the field, Kokolios ripped a shot that was too hot for the keeper to handle and nestled into the back of the net.

The 2-1 Messiah lead was short lived as the Blazers countered punched less than a minute later when the Falcons turned the ball over in the midfield. Hood sent a perfectly weighted through ball to a streaking Clay Smith down the middle. Smith's breakaway shot was saved by Nate Flanders in goal, but Jaylen Poisal was there for rebound on the left-side, once again tying the game.

Game-Winner and Extra Insurance
In the 76th minute the Falcons would take the lead back once again, this time on the first career goal from Matt McDonald. After receiving a pass at the top of the box, McDonald attempted to send a pass to the right side but it was blocked to his left by the Blazers. McDonald took advantage of the bouncing ball, riffling a left-footed strike past the keeper for a 3-2 Messiah lead.

The unassisted tally from McDonald would be the eventual game-winner, but Messiah would add one more goal in the final minutes when Luke Groothoff found Grant Johnson making a run from his spot on the back line. With the ball on his left foot, Johnson tucked a shot off the right post for his first career tally and a 4-2 lead.

Messiah would claim the 4-2 victory after earning a 25-8 advantage in shots. The Falcons put 16 attempts on frame while the Blazers put three attempts on goal.

What's Up Next
As noted, the Falcons clinched a spot in the upcoming MAC Commonwealth Tournament with their victory on Tuesday. Messiah moves to 6-0-0 in the conference and 12-2-2 on the season. The Falcons will be back in action on Friday night when they travel to Reading to take on the Albright Lions at 7:00 p.m. Messiah is 36-0-0 all-time against the Lions.