GRANTHAM, Pa. – Matt McDonald was the difference maker in a 1-0 Messiah men's soccer victory on Saturday night over the Alvernia Golden Wolves. The fifth year found the lone moment of brilliance in the 25th minute off a feed from Ben Lefever. McDonald chipped the Alvernia keeper from the right side for the game-winning tally. The goal was McDonald's ninth score of the season, helping the Falcons to their 15th victory of the season. With the victory, Messiah holds a 15-0-1 overall record and a perfect 5-0-0 mark in the MAC Commonwealth.
 
Adam Carter was called on to make a handful of key saves, including on in just the second minute of the match. In total, Carter made three saves as Messiah claimed their 12th shutout of the season.
 
The Falcons will be back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Stevenson University to take on the Mustangs at 6:00 p.m.
 
How It Happened
The Falcons were under pressure in the opening minutes with Adam Carter called to make a save just 1:15 in the contest. Alvernia's Zeke Zambrano found some space on the left side and ripped a shot from inside the box, requiring Carter to make a nice stop to his left. After the Falcons defense blocked a second attempt from Evan Bauer, they were able to settle into the match a bit. Over the next 20 minutes, Messiah was on the attack, though their chances were not as high quality as the early look from Zambrano.
 
That all changed in the 21st minute when Ben Lefever took control in the midfield. With a defender draped on his back, Lefever pushed forward, eventually getting to the top of the box and finding Matt McDonald on the right side. McDonald took a touch to his right to create some space from his defender, pulling the keeper off his line in the process. McDonald read the keeper correctly, finishing his chance with a little finesse and perfectly placing a chipped shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 Messiah lead. McDonald celebrated his tally with his teammates in the corner, taking his finesse shot into a finger-roll celebration.
 
That was all the offense that Saturday night's match would produce, however chances for a second tally were available to the Falcons. Just two minutes later, Caleb Aldridge had a quality look miss just high and multiple Falcons had a look at goal in the final minute of the first half, but a pair of mishit shots were stopped short of the goal line.
 
In the second half, the Falcons put a pair of shots on frame with Ben Lefever and Ethan Gregory having attempts stopped in the 61st and 67th minutes, respectively.
 
In the end, the Falcons held on for the 1-0 victory, while outshooting the Golden Wolves 17-5 in the match.
 
What's Up Next
Saturday was Messiah's final home match of the regular season. The Falcons will now hit the road to conclude their MAC Commonwealth regular season slate with matches against Stevenson on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. and York on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.