GRANTHAM, Pa. – Four goals in the first 25 minutes led the Falcons to a comfortable, 4-1 victory over the Dickinson Red Devils on Wednesday night on Shoemaker Field for the No. 4 Messiah men's soccer team. The Falcons scored early and often in the opening stretch starting with Matt McDonald in the eighth minute.
 
Cole Cristian, Luke Groothoff, and Dylan Englehart followed up with tallies over the next 10 minutes to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead at the break. Early in the second half, Dickinson got on the board, but Messiah held on for the 4-1 victory.
 
The Falcons move to 4-0-1 on the season and will be back in action on Saturday evening when they host the Salisbury Sea Gulls at 5:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field
 
Explosive Start
The Falcons wasted little time taking a comfortable lead over the visiting Dickinson Red Devils on Wednesday night. Matt McDonald opened the scoring with a tally in the eighth minute. Luke Brautigam received a feed from Messiah's defensive line and slotted a beautifully weighted through ball to McDonald. A one-time strike from McDonald went through the keeper's legs for a 1-0 Messiah lead.
 
The Falcons were far from done. Less than two minutes later, Cole Cristian used a great individual effort to carry possession at the top of the box from the left to right before hitting an off balanced shot with his right foot past the keeper and inside the left post. Cristian's third goal of the season put the Falcons in front 2-0.
 
In the 14th minute, Messiah earned a corner kick. Grant Johnson delivered a perfect ball into the middle of the box from the right side to the head of Luke Groothoff. Groothoff redirected the service inside the left post for a 3-0 Messiah lead.
 
Just moments after stepping onto the field, Dylan Englehart found himself in the middle of the action. Englehart carried possession down the left side and played a little give and go with Ben Lefever. The second pass from Lefever found Englehart in the box. His touch to the left beat his defender as he headed to the endline. From no angle at all, Englehart hammered a shot that landed in the right-side netting for a 4-0 Messiah lead in the 25th minute.
 
Dickinson Finds Their Moment
Just five minutes after the break, Dickinson's Tim O'Hare had a strong individual effort. He carried possession into the box, slipping past a handful of Messiah defenders and getting to the penalty post before sneaking a low shot inside the left post. The tally cut Messiah's lead to three at 4-1 with just over 40 minutes remaining in the match.
 
Scoreless Finish
Following Dickinson's tally, neither team could find the back of the net fir the final 40 minutes of play. Messiah held a 7-2 advantage in shots, with Matt McDonald registering three for the Falcons. Down the stretch, Messiah forced three saves from the Red Devils' keeper including two in the final 15 minutes with attempts from Stefan Leitzel and Davis Pagett.
 
What's Up Next
With the 4-1 victory, Messiah moves to 4-0-1 on the season. The Falcons will be back in action this weekend when they host the Salisbury Sea Gulls at 5:00 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.