GRANTHAM, Pa. - Nicolas Kane's second career goal was the lone tally in a 1-0 victory for No. 23 Messiah men's soccer over the Alvernia Golden Wolves on Saturday night on Shoemaker Field. The Falcons kicked off the MAC Commonwealth season with a victory and move to 7-2-2 on the season.
 
In the game, Messiah held a 21-12 advantage in shots with Falcons' keeper Nate Flanders making four saves for the fourth-straight Messiah clean sheet.
 
The Falcons will be back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 8 when the Arcadia Knights come to town. The match is scheduled to begin on Shoemaker Field at 7:00 p.m.
 
Chances for Both Sides
Alvernia started the game with the opening kick and jumped all over the Falcons to the tune of three shots in the first three-plus minutes. Two of the first three attempts were on frame, testing Nate Flanders, but the Falcons' keeper was up to the task as Messiah weathered the opening push from the Golden Wolves.
 
Messiah recorded their first shot of the game in the seventh minute from Adam Cole, but did not put a shot on frame until the 24th minute when Ben Lefever had an attempt turned away.
 
By the halftime break the scoreboard showed a pair of zeros with the shot totals effectively even as well. Messiah held a slim 7-6 advantage in shots, but both teams had two attempts on frame with Lefever recording a pair on frame for the Falcons.
 
Kane Breaks Through
The Falcons turned the pressure up coming out of the half. Messiah took four of the first five shots in the half with Joseph King, Lefever, Lucas Kokolios, and Micah Fitz each registering attempts between the 46th and 55th minutes.
 
During the first 20 minutes of the half, the Golden Wolves also had their share of chances, testing Fladers with shots on frame in the 51st and 63rd minutes. Flanders turned both shots away for his third and fourth saves of the night, leading to the Falcons scoring moment less than a minute later.
 
In the 64th minute at the top right corner of the box, Nicolas Kane received a pass from the near corner. With a defender closing in on him from his back, Kane spun to the outside and beat the defender to his right. After splitting two defenders to the middle of the box, Kane unleashed a shot that deflected off an Alvernia defender and into the back of the net.
 
The tally was the second career goal for Kane and was all the offense the Falcons would need in the 1-0 victory. Messiah held Alvernia to just four shots in the final 25 minutes of play, none of which went on frame.
 
Messiah had a golden opportunity to double their lead with a penalty kick in the 69th minute, but Cooper Robbins' attempt was turned away by a diving save from Ben Solsky between the pipes.
 
Despite the saved penalty kick, Messiah held on for the 1-0 victory.
 
What's Up Next
With the win Messiah improves to 7-2-2 on the season and start their MAC Commonwealth season with a 1-0-0 mark. Messiah will be back on Shoemaker Field in their next game on Tuesday, Oct. 8 when they host the Arcadia Knights at 7:00 p.m. Messiah holds an all-time record of 17-0-0 against the Knights, including a 2-0 victory over Arcadia in the 2018 regular season finale in Glenside.