LEXINGTON, Va. - The Messiah men's soccer team saw its 2021 season come to a close on Sunday afternoon, falling by a 3-1 final in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament against the Washington and Lee Generals. Messiah pushed hard in the final 10 minutes with numerous chances, but the Falcons were unable to find the necessary goals to keep their season alive.

The Generals connected first with a goal in the 22nd minute and held a 1-0 lead into the second half when they doubled their lead in the 50th minute. The Falcons faced an even tougher hill in the final 11 minutes after a penalty kick in the 79th minute for the Generals made it 3-0. Jonathan Groothoff connected on a penalty kick in the 81st minute to get the Falcons on the board, but none of Messiah's final chances could find the back of the net.

With the 3-1 victory, the Generals advance to their first Final Four in program history while Messiah sees its season come to an end with an overall record of 19-2-2.

Generals Strike First
A day after allowing a goal in the opening minute of play, Messiah came out of the game a little more under control on Sunday afternoon. The Falcons allowed a few early chances to the Generals as Washington and Lee held the bulk of possession in the first 10 minutes of play.
 
After warding off a pair of Generals' shots in the opening minutes, Messiah settled into and had their first dangerous chance of the game in the ninth minute. The Falcons played a ball from the midfield to Matt McDonald on the right side. McDonald was into the box without a defender marking him, but he was whistled offsides and the chance was for naught.
 
In the 14th minute, with the keeper off his line attempting to clear a service, Jake Lent-Koop got his head on the delivery. His shot was unable to scare the goal and fluttered wide left.
 
The match remained scoreless in to the 21st minute when the Generals carried down the right side and slipped a ball to the NCAA Tournament leading scorer, Adrian Zimmerman. His strike snuck under the bar and inside the right post for a 1-0 lead midway through the period.
 
The goal was Zimmerman's ninth tally of the NCAA Tournament, after scoring just six goals prior to the last four games.
 
Messiah attempted to answer throughout the remainder of the period, but were unable to find the scoreboard, trailing 1-0 at the break.
 
Generals Take Commanding Lead
Just five minutes into the second half, and slightly against the run of play, Washington and Lee capitalized on a Falcons' turnover. The Generals worked the ball over to Michael Kutsanzira outside the box. With space in front of him, Kutsanzira wound up and struck a shot inside the left post to double the Generals lead to 2-0 with 40 minutes to play.
 
Now chasing a two-goal margin, Messiah attempted to push forward, stringing together passes and creating chances. The Falcons sent multiple low crosses into the mixer in front of the goal mouth and were able to get touches, but Michael Nyc between the pipes for the Generals kept Messiah off the board with saves in the 70th and 71st minutes. He finished the game with four saves.
 
In the 79th minute, Washington and Lee connected on a penalty kick to balloon their lead to three goals at 3-0. Adrian Zimmerman was the goal scorer once again, connecting on his second goal of the day and 10th of the tournament.
 
Falcons Go Down Fighting
Just two minutes later, Ben Lefever was pulled down in the box and Messiah was awarded a penalty kick of its own. Jonathan Groothoff converted the chance and put the Falcons on the board, making it a 3-1 game.
 
Over the final nine minutes, Messiah continued to apply heavy pressure, holding the ball in the Generals' side of the field almost continuously. Chances in the 84th minute by Stefan Leitzel and 86th minute by Ben Lefever missed high and wide, respectively, as the Generals were able to hold on for the 3-1 victory.
 
In the match, the Generals held a slim 15-14 advantage in shots taken, putting seven on frame compared to five by the Falcons.
 
That's A Wrap
The Falcons complete their 2021 campaign with an overall record of 19-2-2, advancing to the Elite Eight for the 19th time in program history. Messiah also claimed the 2021 MAC Commonwealth Championship for the 19th time in program history.