msoc090123
0
TCNJ TCNJ (0-1-0, 0-0-0)
4
Winner Messiah Messia (1-0-0, 0-0-0)
TCNJ TCNJ
(0-1-0, 0-0-0)
0
Final
4
Messiah Messia
(1-0-0, 0-0-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
TCNJ TCNJ 0 0 0
Messiah Messia 0 4 4

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

Late Outburst Leads Falcons Past Lions in Opener

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After nearly an hour of scoreless soccer, the No. 12 Messiah men's soccer team broke through with a tally from sophomore Patrick Lee against The College of New Jersey Lions. Lee's tally started a 14-minute span that featured four Messiah goals as the Falcons cruised to a 4-0 victory to begin the 2023 campaign.

The Lions held the Falcons in check across the opening half, allowing just four Messiah shots, but the Falcons would convert their opportunities in the second half, netting goals from Lee, Sam Phillips, and Bruno Franco. Messiah also earned an own goal to claim the 4-0 victory. Messiah will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they take on the Catholic Cardinals at 2:00 p.m. to wrap up their opening weekend trip to Washington, D.C.
 
Scoreless Start
The Falcons and Lions played a scoreless opening half with Messiah registering the only four shots of the half. Matt McDonald attempted the first of those four shots in the 11th minute, missing his target high. In the middle of the half, Ben Lefever and Josh Bratager both put attempts on frame, but the Lions' keeper Julian Franco saved both shots. Those two attempts were Messiah's best chances of the period.
 
Messiah earned nine corner kicks in the period, but were unable to convert their numerous first-half chances.
 
Second-Half Breakthrough
Messiah found their moment in the 59th minute with Patrick Lee finding the back of the net off a feed from Ben Lefever to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Ten minutes later, that advantage would double with Sam Phillips scoring in his first career game, giving Messiah a 2-0 lead. The cushion would continue to grow with the Falcons scoring an own goal in the 71st minute before Bruno Franco scored his first career goal in the 73rd minute. Messiah's 4-0 lead would hold for the remaining 17 minutes of the contest as the Falcons start the season with a victory.
 
In total, the Falcons outshot the Lions 13-3 in the contest, putting seven attempts on frame against just one for TCNJ.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they take on the Catholic Cardinals at 2:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C. Messiah's first home game of the season will come next Friday night, Sept. 8 at 7:00 p.m. against SUNY Brockport on Shoemaker Field.