GRANTHAM, Pa. - The No. 1 Messiah men's soccer team scored three times in each half en route to a 6-0 victory over the Hood Blazers on Wednesday night. Josh Bratager led the offensive effort with a brace in the match, scoring in the 17th and 51st minutes. In addition to Bratager's brace, Matt McDonald, Sam Phillips, Isaac Schmitke, and Matt Schumacher all found the back of the night on Wednesday night.
 
In the match, Messiah outshot the Blazers 34-2, putting 15 of their attempts on target.
 
With the victory, Messiah moves to 14-0-1 on the season and improves to 4-0-0 in the MAC Commonwealth. The Falcons will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Alvernia Golden Wolves on Shoemaker Field at 7:30 p.m.
 
How It Happened
The Falcons wasted little time getting on the board, finding the back of the net just the seventh minute of play. Ben Lefever picked the pocket of a defender in the box and hustled to the baseline on the right side. After creating some space for a service, Lefever found Patrick Lee, who touched a pass back to Matt McDonald. With his left foot, McDonald put the Falcons up 1-0 with a shot from the left side of the penalty spot.
 
That lead would double in the 17th minute when Josh Bratger sent a cross for a cutting Ben Lefever. Bratager's cross came from outside the top of the box on the left side, looking for a crashing Lefever. With a defender draped around him, Lefever was unable to get a foot on the feed, but his presence kept the keeper flat footed and the ball trickled, untouched, into the back of the net for a Bratager goal.
 
It was Lefever again in the middle of the action in the 19th minute, creating an opportunity this time on the left side. After holding possession against a trio of Blazer defenders and keeping the ball in off the endline, Lefever slipped a pass to Patrick Lee. His initial shot was saved, but the rebound went right to the foot of Sam Phillips, who hammered it home for a 3-0 cushion.
 
Messiah was held scoreless for the final 26 minutes of the opening half, but added three more insurance goals after the break. First it was Josh Bratager again, scoring in the 51st minute, collecting his own rebound and scoring with his left foot. In the 69th minute, Isaac Schmitke connected from the top of the box after a cross the was intended for the back post bounced found his foot. He stepped up and found the twine for a 5-0 advantage. In the 84th minute, Matt Schumacher knocked home a corner kick directly off the delivery for the sixth and final tally. The goal was Schumacher's first of his career and was the cherry on top of a 6-0 victory.
 
What's Up Next
With their 11th shutout of the season, Messiah improves to 14-0-1 on the year while bumping their MAC Commonwealth record to 4-0-0 on the campaign. The Falcons will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Alvernia Golden Wolves at 7:30 p.m. on Shoemaker Field.