ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – On Friday afternoon, the Messiah University men's soccer team used an early goal and then shutdown defense to defeat the Eagles of Eastern University, 1-0. The Falcons got on the board quickly with a goal from
Davis Pagett by
Patrick Lee to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons had many chances, with seven more shots on goal, but the Eagles' goalkeeper kept them within reach throughout the game. The Falcons defense, however, only allowed one shot on goal to give the Falcons the 1-0 win.
Up next, the Falcons travel to Reading, Pa. to take on the Lions of Albright College on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7:00 p.m.
First Half
The Falcons looked to start the game off strong. After the Falcons pushed into the attacking third,
Grant Shreiner got the ball and made a couple nice moves past an Eastern defender. Shreiner then passed the ball towards the far corner to
Sam Phillips. Phillips then crossed the ball over to the far post to
Davis Pagett. Pagett then ripped a volley, past the diving Eagles goalkeeper, and into the back of the net to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. The Falcons looked for another chance in the 15th minute off a Jack Markantonio shot, but the shot was saved by the Eagles' goalkeeper to keep the Falcons lead at one. The Falcons had another great chance in the 29th minute on a
Grant Shreiner shot on goal, but again the shot was saved by the Eagles' goalkeeper. The Falcons got three more shots in the remainder of the first half, but none of the shots were on goal and Messiah took a 1-0 lead going into the break.
Second Half
The Falcons got a pair of chances in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but the shots on goal from
Sam Phillips and
Kyle Spodnik were both saved by the Eagles' goalkeeper. The Falcons continued to control possession and looked to add their one goal lead with two more shots on goal from
Jalen Keller and
Grant Shreiner, but each shot was once again saved to keep Eastern within one with a little over 17 minutes remaining in the game. The Eagles got off three late shots, but each shot was off target, and the Falcons earned the 1-0 win.
Stats
Davis Pagett scored the game-winner in the seventh minute.
Sam Phillips tallied the assist. The Falcons totaled 19 shots with eight shots on goal. The Eagles tallied nine shots with one shot on goal. Messiah earned seven corner kicks to Eastern's two.
Kessler Forrest earned the win in goal for the Falcons and made one save.
Next
The Falcons travel to Reading, Pa. to take on the Lions of Albright College on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7:00 p.m.
