YORK, Pa. - Trevor Goodling netted all three goals in a thrilling, come-from-behind victory for Messiah men's soccer over the York Spartans on Wednesday night. Goodling opened the scoring in the 16th minute before beating the buzzer with 15 seconds left in regulation to tie the match at 2-2 and force overtime. Just four minutes into the extra period, Micah Fitz found Goodling for the tap-in golden goal to complete the hat trick.

Prior to netting three goals in Wednesday's match, Goodling had tallied just one career goal against Lebanon Valley on Oct. 9, 2018.

After Messiah took the early 1-0 lead, York countered with goals in the 24th and 65th minutes to take a 2-1 lead. Goodling then forced overtime in the waning seconds and tallied four minutes later for the game winner.

Messiah will next take the field on Saturday night when they host Salisbury University on Shoemaker Field at 7:00 p.m.

Early Strike Gets Falcons on Board
After York sent a header high for the first shot of the game in the seventh minute, Messiah had their first scoring chance of the game in the ninth minute off a shot from Goodling. A great save from York's keeper Billy Bridegum kept the Falcons off the board, but just nine minutes later the Falcons would find the back of the net.

In the 16th minute, Ben Lefever carried the ball down the left-side of the box all the way to the end-line. Lefever's drive to the end-line brought the Spartans' defense line toward the ball and Lefever sent a perfectly weighted pass into the middle of the box for Goodling. Just outside the six, Goodling controlled the pass and sent a shot inside the right post for a 1-0 Messiah lead.

The goal was the second tally of career for Goodling.

York Fights Back and Takes the Lead
Just eight minutes after Goodling's opening goal the Spartans found the twine after a header goal from Zion Friday. A cross from Barak Amige found the head of Friday in the 24th minute for the junior's fourth goal of the season. The tally tied the game at 1-1 and things stayed even through halftime.

Not only were things tied on the scoreboard, but both Messiah and York had six shots registered in the opening half.

After the break, York had the first quality looks of the second half with a pair of shots wide and a third blocked in the first 10 minutes of the period. In the 62nd minute, Messiah put together a flurry of activity in front of the York goal with attempts from Goodling and Jake Lent-Koop turned away by Bridegum. In the two-minute stretch, Messiah also earned three corner kicks, but were unable to find the go-ahead goal.

Just moments later, the Spartans landed the next punch thanks to a long ball forward from Zion Friday. Travis Gould ran onto the pass and hammered a side-volley into the back of the net for the 2-1 York lead in the 65th minute.

Cardiac Kids
With the Falcons trailing 2-1 with less than a minute remaining, Messiah worked the ball into the right-side of the box, but the Spartans cleared the ball toward the midfield line. Cooper Robbins hustled down the clearance and moments later the Falcons sent a long ball into the left corner for Grant Johnson. After collecting the ball with a defender on his right-side, Johnson pulled the ball back and sent a cross into the middle of the box.

Goodling was on the other end of the cross and headed it into the right-side netting for the equalizer. Goodling's second tally of the game came with just 15 seconds remaining and forced overtime with the scored tied 2-2.

In extra period, Ben Lefever attempted the first shot, having his rip blocked in the 92nd minute. Just two minutes later, the Falcons sent a long ball into the box from the midfield for Micah Fitz. The pass brought the York keeper off his line, but Fitz got to the ball first and sent it to the middle of the box for a waiting Goodling for the tap-in game-winner.

The tally sent off a celebration on the Messiah bench and gave the Falcons a 3-2 golden goal victory.

With three goals in the contest, Goodling tallied the first hat trick of his career and just the 84th hat trick in Messiah men's soccer history.

What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action this Saturday night when Messiah hosts the Salisbury Sea Gulls at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field. Messiah owns a 3-0-1 all-time record against the Sea Gulls.