READING, Pa. – The No. 7 Messiah men's soccer team scored three goals in the final 30 minutes of play en route to a 3-1 victory over the Albright Lions on Tuesday evening. Messiah was paced by second-half scores from Luke Brautigam, Stefan Leitzel, and Dylan Englehart while the defense allowed just three shots on the night.
 
Messiah registered 31 shots against the three from the Lions.
 
The Falcons will be back in action this weekend when they host the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen at 6:00 p.m. on Homecoming.
 
Falcons Set the Tone
Messiah was on the front foot for the entirety of the opening half, holding possession throughout the 45 minutes. The Falcons attempted 13 shots in the period, putting three on frame. Ben Lefever put two shots on frame before the half, registering them in the first and 24th minutes. Jonathan Groothoff was the only other Falcon to but a shot on frame, attempting his in the 23rd minute.
 
While the Falcons' offense was setting the tone, the defense did not allow the Lions to gain an inch. Albright did not record a shot in the opening half.
 
After 45 minutes, the score remained deadlocked at 0-0.
 
Second-Half Flurry
Messiah had opportunities at the beginning of the second half. None were better than their chances in the first minute of the second half, Ben Lefever had a chance from the top of the box. His initial shot hit the left post and the rebound trickled in front of the goal mouth. Matt McDonald ran onto the loose ball, but his shot hit the crossbar. The Lions were unable to clear the ball away and Lefever had another chance just seconds later. His shot was right into the chest of Lions' keeper Nick Barton to keep it a scoreless game.
 
Finishing Touch
With the match still scoreless in the 61st minute, Messiah found their first finishing moment of the night off the foot of Luke Brautigam. After the Lions touched a ball out of bounce on the left sideline, Messiah played a quick throw in to Luke Brautigam. With space in front, Brautigam carried forward squeezing through a handful of Lions and getting into the box for a one-on-one chance. His right-footed strike found the back of the net and put the Falcons up 1-0.
 
Just two minutes later, Messiah doubled their lead with a perfect delivery into the box from Trevor Goodling and just as good of a header from Stefan Leitzel at the top of the box. From the midfield, Goodling chipped a header toward the Falcons' target and Leitzel redirected the delivery over the diving keeper for a 2-0 Messiah advantage.
 
In the 75th minute, the Falcons netted their third tally of the contest with a low cross from the right corner. Darryl Daniels redirected the low pass and Dylan Englehart was there for a right-footed finish and the 3-0 lead. The score was his second score of the season.
 
Albright Records First Shot, Later Scores
The Falcons held the Lions without a shot for the vast majority of Tuesday's contest. Albright attempted their first shot of the night in the 76th minute with an attempt that missed left. In the 80th minute, Albright earned back-to-back corner kicks, putting a pair of shots on frame. Jarod Pavlovich saved the first attempt, but on the second corner kick for the Lions, Messiah redirected the kick into the back of their own goal. The score made it a 3-1 game.
 
The Falcons looked like they had another tally later in the contest, but an offsides pulled the score off the board and Messiah held on for the 3-1 victory.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will return home on Saturday for their Homecoming Game against the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen at 6:00 p.m. Lebanon Valley holds a 9-1-0 record this season and a 2-0 mark in the MAC Commonwealth after multi-goal victories over Albright and Widener.