GRANTHAM, Pa. - Lucas Kokolios scored a left-footed strike from outside of box in the third minute to give No. 17 Messiah men's soccer an early 1-0 lead over the Arcadia Knights. Four more goals followed for the Falcons as Messiah earned a 5-1 win over the Knights to improve to 2-0-0 in the MAC Commonwealth.
 
Kokolios was the first of five different goal scorers for Messiah with Trevor Goodling, Darryl Daniels, Luke Groothoff, and Chris Sepessy also finding the back of the net.
 
Messiah held a 23-13 advantage in shots, putting 13 attempts on frame against just four from the Knights.
 
With the victory, Messiah improves to 8-2-2 overall with a 2-0-0 conference record to start the MAC Commonwealth slate. The Falcons are back in action this Saturday when they travel to Widener at 7:30 p.m.
 
Fast Start
On the very first shot of the night, Lucas Kokolios took a left-footed strike from outside the 18 and beat to keeper to his right for a 1-0 Messiah lead in just the third minute. Kokolios set-up his strike by shaking off a defender and touching to open space before letting the rip go.
 
Kokolios' tally was the second-fastest goal of the season, just two seconds slower than Ben Lefever's goal against Dickinson on Sept. 11.
 
After the early goal, the Falcons kept the pressure up, taking three shots and earning a pair of corner kicks in the next eight minutes. The high pressure would quickly result in a second goal off the night off the head of Trevor Goodling. In the 15th minute, Shay Quintin carried the ball into the left corner and sent a cross into the center of the box toward Ben Lefever and Goodling. Lefever and his defender skied for the cross but it sailed over them to a waiting Goodling, who used the back of his head to redirect the feed into the net for a 2-0 Messiah lead.
 
End of the First, Start of the Second
Nearly 30 scoreless minutes were played following Goodling's tally, but Messiah got back on the board in the 42nd minute off the foot of Darryl Daniels. With the Falcons playing quickly with just one or two touch passes, Luke Bratigam inserted a ball toward the top of the box for Daniels from the left corner. Daniels slid into the pass right on the edge of the box and slotted the shot past the keeper inside the left post.
 
The tally was Daniels' first goal of the season and second career tally.
 
With the goal late in the opening half, Messiah took a 3-0 advantage into halftime. In the opening period, the Falcons held a 12-2 lead in shots, putting five on frame while holding the Knights without a shot on goal.
 
After the half, Messiah would collect their fourth goal of the evening in the 53rd minute when Micah Fitz found a wide-open Luke Groothoff at the top of the box. Groothoff turned to goal and deftly delivered a right-footed strike for the 4-0 Messiah lead.
 
Sepessy's First Score
In the 65th minute, Messiah found the back of the net for the fifth and final time on the evening. Luke Brautigam sent a ball to Cole Cristian on the end line on the right side. Cristian somehow threaded a ball back through the Knights' defense to a waiting Chris Sepessy for the one-time strike inside the near post. The tally was the first of Sepessy's career and gave Messiah a 5-0 lead with under 30 minutes to play.
 
Arcadia would find a goal in the closing seconds off an awkward ball sent into the box. The delivery by Julian Larrondo bounced inside the six and trickled into the back of the net with less than six seconds on the clock.
 
Despite the late goal, Messiah claimed the 5-1 victory to move to 2-0-0 in the MAC Commonwealth and improve 8-2-2 overall.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back on the pitch this Saturday when they travel to Widener to take on the Pride at 7:30p.m. Messiah owns a 27-0-0 all-time record against the Pride.