GRANTHAM, Pa. - On Wednesday morning, the Messiah men's soccer team announced their schedule for the upcoming 2024 season as well as their incoming class for the upcoming campaign. The Falcons will welcome eight new members to the program ahead of the 2024 season. The Falcons finished the 2023 season with an overall record of 20-1-1, winning the MAC Commonwealth Championship, and advancing to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. Messiah is scheduled to open the 2024 season in Scranton, Pa. against the University of Scranton on Aug. 30.
Messiah Men's Soccer 2024 Schedule
The 2024 slate is highlighted by nine home game, including four in their first five contests. After starting the season on the road in Scranton on Aug. 1, the Falcons will return home and welcome California Luthern (Sept. 5), Carthage (Sept. 7), Dickinson (Sept. 11), and Salisbury (Sept. 14) on Shoemaker Field over the next two weeks.
An extended stretch of road matches will follow with games at Elizabethtown (Sept. 18), Rowan (Sept. 25), Mary Washington (Sept. 28), and Lycoming (Oct. 2) before the Falcons kick off the conference slate. In the midst of those four away matches, Messiah will host Penn State - Harrisburg on Sept. 21 for the lone home match in the back-half of September.
Homecoming will take place on Oct. 5 with the Eastern Eagles coming to town for a match at 6:00 p.m. The match will also being the conference schedule for the Falcons. After a final non-conference game against Lancaster Bible on Oct. 10 on the road, Messiah will conclude the season with six-straight conference games. The Falcons will host York (Oct. 19), Stevenson (Oct. 26), and Albright (Nov. 2) while hitting the road to take on Hood (Oct. 12), Alvernia (Oct. 23), and Widener (Oct. 29).
The MAC Commonwealth Tournament will take place during the first full-week of November with the Conference Championship Game scheduled to take place on Nov. 9.
Messiah Men's Soccer 2024
Name: Kessler Forrest
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
High School: Covenant Day School
College Major: Undecided
Position: Goalkeeper
Height/Weight: 6'2/195
Playing Experience:
High School: Covenant Day School
-All Conference
-3 Year Varsity Starter
-Captain
-Team MVP
Club: Charlotte Eagles
-USL Academy
-State Champions
-Nationals
ODP: North Carolina
Bio: Kessler is a great shot stopper who has excellent technique and positioning. He has the ability to control his box and is very good in the air. Kessler will help to fill the shoes of two graduating goalkeepers.
Name: Jonathan Kidd
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
High School: Montverde Academy (FL) / First Colonial High School (VA)
College Major: Biomedical Engineering
Position: Center Back
Height/Weight: 6'2/176
Playing Experience:
High School: First Colonial High School (VA)
-2 Year Captain
-2x Defensive Player of the Year
-State Champions
-Regional Champions
-Coaches' Award
Club: Beach FC ECNL (VA)
-Captain
-State Cup Finalists
Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (FL)
ODP: 2 Years
Bio: Jonathan is a strong, fast, athletic center back who can win balls on the ground and in the air. His senior year he transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida and has continued to develop technically and tactically. Jonathan is a strong leader who communicates well and will have the opportunity to contribute at center back in the fall.
Name: Killian O'Reilly
Hometown: Wading River, NY
High School: Shoreham Wading River High School
College Major: Software Engineering
Position: Goalkeeper
Height/Weight: 6'1 / 170
Playing Experience:
High School: Shoreham Wading River High School
-3 Years Varsity
-All County Academic
-Scholar Athlete
Club: SUSA FC
-ECNL-R Conference Champions
-ECNL-R Regional Semi-finalists
-ECNL-R Florida Showcase Champions
-Jeff Cup Champions
-Eastern NY State Cup Semi-finalists
Bio: Killian is an athletic goalkeeper with a large save zone. He communicates well, has good hands, is good with the ball at his feet, and is a good shot stopper. Killian will help to fill the shoes of two graduating goalkeepers.
Name: Gianni Pezzino
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
High School: Sweet Home High School
College Major: Accounting
Position: Target
Height/Weight: 6'/165
Playing Experience:
High School: Sweet Home High School
-All Conference
-Conference Sportsmanship Award
-Team MVP
-High School All-Star Selection
-All Western New York Scholar Athlete
-3 Year Varsity Starter
-Captain
Club: WNY Flash, Empire United
-ECNL
-2x State Finalists
Bio: Gianni is a strong athletic Target who has the ability to post up and interplay with his midfielders. He has the ability to finish goalscoring opportunities as well as dish assists himself. He enrolled in classes in January and scored two goals in our spring contest against Shippensburg. Gianni will look to contribute at Target for the Falcons this fall.
Name: Gabe Redcay
Hometown: Manheim, Pa.
High School: Manheim Central High School
College Major: Undecided
Position: Left Wing
Height/Weight: 5'7/150
Playing Experience:
High School: Manheim Central High School
-All State
-Section MVP
-3x League All-Star
-2 Year Captain
-4 Year Varsity Starter
Club: Lancaster FC USL Academy / Lancaster Elite Collegiate Academy
-State Cup Semifinalists
Bio: Gabe is a left footed attacking player who is strong technically, athletic, good 1v1, and can create scoring opportunities for himself and others. He is coachable, hardworking, and a positive teammate. Gabe will look to contribute at left wing in the fall.
Name: Grant Shreiner
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
High School: Lancaster County Christian School
College Major: Business Administration
Position: Midfielder
Height/Weight: 5'6/125
Playing Experience:
High School: Lancaster County Christian School
-All State
-4x All League All Star
-4 Year Varsity Starter
-Record for Career Goals
-Record for Career Assists
-Junior Year Goals: 34 / Senior Year Goals: 47
-2 Year Captain
Club: Lancaster FC USL Academy / Lancaster Elite Collegiate Academy
-Captain
-State Semi-finalists
Bio: Grant is clinical technically and has a high soccer IQ which will allow him to fit into Messiah's system and style of play. He makes good runs off the ball and has demonstrated at the club and high school level the ability to score goals and dish assists. Grant will look to play in the midfield for Messiah.
Name: Kyle Spodnik
Hometown: Akron, OH
High School: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
College Major: Health and Physical Education
Position: Wing
Height: 5'9/165
Playing Experience:
High School: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy
-All Region
-All State
-2x All District
-Regional Finalists
-4 Year Varsity Member
-Captain
Club: Evolution and Spire FC
-2x Regional Champions
-4x National Qualifiers
-7x State Champions
-Ranked #1 in the Nation
Bio: Kyle Spodnik is a dynamic winger with the pace and athleticism to turn the corner and can play an excellent cross. He enrolled in classes this spring at Messiah and scored two goals—one against Shippensburg and the game winner against the Alumni. His technical ability combined with his decision making will serve him well as he looks to contribute at right wing.
Name: Ekow Yankah
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
High School: Oakdale High School (Frederick, MD)
College Major: Undecided
Position: Target/Wing
Height: 6'2/170
Playing Experience:
High School: Oakdale High School
- All County
- High School All Star Selection
- 2 Year Varsity Starter
- Team Leading Goal Scorer
- Region Champions
- Conference Champions
Clubs: Alliance Warriors
- Ranked #1 in Maryland
- Ranked #1 in the US
Jesden Football Academy
- Accara, Ghana
Bio: Ekow is a tall, athletic, attacking player who looks to finish goal scoring opportunities. He is clean technically and moves off the ball well. Ekow will look to play either Target or Wing for the Falcons in the Fall.
Players Returning for a 5th Year:
Caleb Aldridge - Champaign, IL - Left Back
Josh Bratager - Wake Forest, NC - Center Midfielder
Jarec Morlote - Hillsdale, NJ - Center Midfielder
Ben Vollmer - State College, PA - Center Back
