GRANTHAM, Pa. - In the fourth minute of overtime, Jake Lent-Koop used his head to score the biggest goal of his career, giving the Messiah men's soccer team its 19th Conference Championship in program history. Lent-Koop's tally lifted the Falcons over the second-seeded Lebanon Valley Dutchmen by a 2-1 final in the MAC Commonwealth Championship Game. The Falcons fell behind in the 20th minute when Peter Foerster connected to give the visitors a 1-0 lead midway through the opening half. Messiah was relentless in its pursuit of an equalizer, eventually finding its moment in the 57th minute off the foot of Matt McDonald.

Lent-Koop, with his dramatic, game-winning goal, earned MAC Commonwealth Tournament MVP honors.
 
The Falcons had plenty of chances to end the match in regulation, but were unable to connect with the back of the net. As the match turned to overtime, Messiah wasted little time ending the contest. Off a corner kick, Lucas Kokolios found Jarec Morlote, who delivered a perfect ball to the head of Jake Lent-Koop for the header score and Messiah's third MAC Commonwealth Championship of the day (women's soccer and field hockey).
 
Despite recording 12 shots in the first half, the Falcons entered halftime trailing the visiting Dutchmen, 1-0, from Foerster's rocket in the 20th minute. With a one-goal deficit, Messiah continued to apply relentless offensive pressure on the defensive backs of Lebanon Valley. After conceding the game's opening goal, the Falcons responded with seven shots in the following 25 minutes until halftime. The Dutchmen goalkeeper, Sean Quirk, kept his side ahead with three first-half saves.
 
As 11 passed in the second half, Messiah finally found its equalizing goal. McDonald's right-footed, curling effort from a tight angle found the side netting to bring the Falcons level, 1-1, with over 30 minutes to play for a game-winner. Messiah put Quirk to the test in the following 15 minutes of action, forcing two saves from the senior goalkeeper. Probing for an opening, the Falcons continued to scratch and claw for the game-winning tally. Much of the final 20 minutes of regulation were played in Lebanon Valley's defensive third, as Quirk made two key saves in the 89th minute to keep the contest level. Regulation expired with the two sides tied at 1-1, as overtime was destined to determine the conference champion.
 
It did not take long during the first overtime period for Messiah to notch the conference-clinching tally. With only 3:57 gone in overtime, Lent-Koop rose above his defender to connect on a looping ball from Morlote to head in the game-winning score. Lent-Koop dashed for the opposite corner flag in celebration, eventually getting buried by his teammates who had just claimed the program's 19th conference championship.
 
With the win, Messiah improves its overall record to 16-1-2 (8-0 MAC Commonwealth) ahead of the NCAA Tournament.

What's Next
As mentioned, the victory earns the Falcons their 19th Conference Championship and also qualifies the Falcons for their 31st trip to the NCAA Tournament that will begin next weekend. Messiah will learn of their First Round foe on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. via selection show on ncaa.com.