GRANTHAM, Pa. - For 87 minutes on Saturday night, it looked as if Messiah men's soccer was going to open the 2019 season with their fourth straight 1-0 decision.
Ben Lefever netted his first career goal in the 23rd minute with a beautiful chip of the Muhlenberg keeper, but Mules scored with just three minutes left in regulation to force overtime.
Despite a handful of dangerous chances in the extra 20 minutes, neither team was able to find the back of the net for the golden goal winner and the Falcons and Muhlenberg Mules ended in a 0-0 draw in Messiah's 2019 home opener.
Messiah held a 16-9 advantage in shots, but the Mules allowed the Falcons to put just five of their attempts on frame. Muhlenberg put four of their nine shots on frame on the night.
The Falcons are back in action on Wednesday night when they host the Dickinson Red Devils at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.
Messiah Takes Early Control
After Muhlenberg picked up a corner kick in the third minute of play, Messiah took over and held control for the vast majority of the opening half. The Falcons ripped off seven shots in the first 20 minutes of play against just one for the Mules in the opening stretch.
Cooper Robbins and
Jake Lent-Koop each registered a pair of shots while
Ben Lefever was the lone Falcon to put a shot on target during the stretch.
Lefever Breaks Through
In the 23rd minute it was Lefever again putting another shot on goal, this time flicking a chip over top of the keeper's head from about 20 yards out and giving Messiah a 1-0 lead. With Messiah holding the ball in the midfield,
Cole Cristian sent a high ball over the top toward a streaking Lefever.
The Mules' keeper came off his line with the thought to clear the service, but after the pass bounced outside the box he was caught in no-man's land in the middle of the 18. Lefever beat his defender to the ball and after a pair of bounces, he lifted his touch over the keeper and into the back of the net from 20 yards out. The tally gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead, midway through the opening half and gave both Lefever and Cristian the first points of their career.
Muhlenberg Finds the Equalizer
After the Messiah tally the game was scoreless for over an hour and it appeared that the Falcons were going to hold on for their second-straight 1-0 victory. The Mules, however, had other intentions. After testing
Nate Flanders between the pipes on three occasions in the second half, the Mules finally broke through in the 87th minute after a bit of frantic play for the Falcons in the midfield.
Muhlenberg set shots at Flanders in the 64th, 70th, and 83rd minutes, but the senior keeper turned all three attempts away, but in the 87th minute the Mules found the twine off a goal from Kevin Hagan. Zach Cimring send a pass from the right-side to Hagan, who knocked it in from close range to knot the game at 1-1 with just minutes left in regulation.
Scoreless Overtime
Neither team was able to register a shot after the equalizer and the game turned to overtime, tied 1-1. In overtime, both teams had opportunities with
Matt McDonald missing just wide in the 98th minute for the Falcons and Stephen Carton sending a rocket outside the right post for the Mules in the 105th minute.
Despite the chances for both teams, neither was able to dent the scoreboard in the extra 20 minutes and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
What's Up Next
Messiah will next take the field on Wednesday, Sept. 11 when the Dickinson Red Devils make the short trip to Grantham for a match at 7:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.
