FREDERICK, Md. – On Saturday evening, the Messiah University men's soccer team defeated the Blazers of Hood College, 2-1. The Falcons started the game off strong with a goal from Patrick Lee by Caleb Aldridge in the sixth minute. Both teams went scoreless for the rest of the half, but the scoring picked back up in the 53rd minute. Patrick Lee scored his second goal of the game to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead. The Blazers though answered back with a goal to reduce the Falcons lead to one. The Falcons had a couple of chances, but it was the Blazers with the final chance of the game. Hood looked to score the equalizer in the final minute, but Adam Carter made the save on a Blazers' shot for the Falcons to hold onto their 2-1 win.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Spartans of York (Pa.) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 5:00 p.m.
 
First Half
The Falcons looked to get on the board early. After some quality passing in the midfield, Harrison Keator sent a through ball towards the left edge of the box. Caleb Aldridge received the pass and sent a cross to the right side of the box. A Hood defender deflected the ball up into the air and Patrick Lee volleyed the ball into the top-right corner to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Blazers looked to even the score in the 33rd minute with a shot that looked like it was headed into the top-right corner, but Adam Carter made the save to keep the Falcons lead. The Falcons quickly went on the counterattack. In the same minute, Isaac Schmitke sent a low shot towards the left-side of the goal, but the Blazers goalkeeper made the save to keep Hood within one at the half.
 
Second Half
After some back-and-forth play, the Falcons looked to add to their lead in the 53rd minute. Patrick Lee received a ball just outside of the box, turned towards the goal and ripped a shot into the right-side of the goal to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. The Blazers though did not go away without a fight. Just over 20 seconds after the Falcons second goal, hood scored a goal to put them within one. The Falcons looked for a chance to extend their lead back to two in the 57th minute. Luke Foster ripped a shot into the top-left of the goal, but the Blazers goalie made the save to keep it a one goal game. After some more back-and-forth play, in the 85th minute, Caleb Aldridge sent a shot towards the goal, but the Blazers' goalkeeper made another key save to keep the score at 2-1. The Blazer had one final chance in the 90th minute with a shot that was going towards the top-right of the goal, but Adam Carter made one final save for the Falcons to hold on to the 2-1 win.
 
Stats
Patrick Lee led the Falcons with two goals. Caleb Aldridge tallied an assist. The Falcons totaled 21 shots with six shots on goal. The Blazers totaled 11 shots with four shots on goal. Messiah earned six corner kicks to Hood's three. Adam Carter earned the win in goal for the Falcons and made three saves.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Spartans of York (Pa.) on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 5:00 p.m.