GRANTHAM, Pa. - Cole Cristian provided both goals in a 2-0 home opening victory for the No. 12 Messiah men's soccer team against the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles on Friday night. Cristian found the back of the net in each half, scoring a free kick goal in the 29th minute before doubling the lead in the 58th minute with an impressive run through a trio of Golden Eagle defenders.
 
Messiah controlled the bulk of play on a humid night on Shoemaker Field, attempting 21 shots against just three for the visiting Golden Eagles. The Falcons put eight shots on goal while holding SUNY Brockport without an attempt on frame.
 
With the shutout victory, Messiah improves to 3-0-0 on the young season and has yet to concede a goal, outscoring their opponents 10-0 through three matches. The Falcons will be back in action on Saturday night when they welcome Rutgers Camden to Shoemaker Field to complete the two-match home-opening weekend.
 
Free Kick Tally
The Falcons came out firing with a pair of shots on goal in the first 10 minutes of play. Matt McDonald put both attempts on frame, but Andrew Taylor was up for the task, making two early saves to keep the match scoreless. In the 11th minute, Messiah took three shots with attempts from Cole Cristian and Davis Pagett blocked in the box before they could get to goal. Eventually, the ball found Ben Lefever, who put a shot on frame, but it was once again saved.
 
The Golden Eagles registered the first shot of the match in the 15th, but it was blocked by the Falcons defense.
 
In the 29th minute, Messiah would find their moment. After a SUNY Brockport handball just outside the box, the Falcons set up for a free kick 19 yards from goal. Cole Cristian emerged from a group around the ball and blasted a shot into the upper 90 on the right side for a 1-0 lead.
 
Josh Bratager would put an attempt on frame in the 44th minute, that was saved as Messiah took their 1-0 lead into the half.
 
Cristian Strikes Again
In the second half, Messiah continued to control possession eventually finding their chance to extend the lead in the 58th minute. It was Cristian again, this time scoring in the run of play. Cristian received a pass from McDonald on the left side and carried possession into the left side of the box. With three defenders eventually closing in on him, Cristian was able to split a pair of Golden Eagles before chesting the ball down to himself in the middle of the box. After eluding the final defender, Cristian went to the near post for his second goal of the evening. It was his second career two-goal game with the first coming in the 2022 MAC Commonwealth Championship Game.
 
That was all the offense Messiah would generate, however the territory battle heavily favored the Falcons for the final half hour of play.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah will have a quick turnaround as they will take on the Rutgers Camden Scarlet Raptors on Shoemaker Field at 7:00 p.m.