GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Friday evening, the twenty-fifth ranked Messiah University men's soccer team dropped a back-and-forth scoring affair against the seventeenth ranked Stags of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, 4-3. The Falcons got off to a strong start with a goal by Jalen Keller from Gabe Redcay to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into play. The Stags then scored a goal just 12 minutes later to tie the game at one. Neither team added a goal in the rest of first half, but the Stags scored just 27 seconds into the second half to take a 2-1 lead. The Falcons tied the game on a Patrick Lee goal from Redcay in the 73rd minute to tie the game at two. Less than two minutes later, the Stags scored another go-ahead goal to take a 3-2 lead. The Falcons though responded again with Lee's second goal of the game from Kyle Spodnik to tie the game at three with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Stags though scored again in the 87th minute to earn the 4-3 win.
 
Up next, the Falcons take on the Profs of Rowan University on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 5:00 p.m.
 
First Half
The Falcons started the first half strong controlling the possession. In the seventh minute, the Falcons looked to get on the board early. After receiving a pass past midfield, Davis Pagett worked towards the far corner. Pagett then sent a pass over to Gabe Redcay and Redcay quickly crossed the ball into the box. Jalen Keller was wide open next to the near post and headed the ball into the top-right corner to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons quickly looked to add to their lead in the eighth minute. Patrick Lee ripped a shot on an open goal, but a Stags defender made the team save and kept the score at 1-0. The Stags then went on the attack in the 18th minute with a shot on goal, but Killian O'Reilly made the save to keep the Falcons one -goal lead. The Stags though kept on the attack and tied the game with a goal in the 19th minute. After both teams scored, the two teams went back-and-forth, with each team's defenses not allowing a shot until the 41st minute. The Stags got a look on goal, but O'Reilly made another save to keep the game tied.  
 
Second Half
The Stags opened the second half strong with a goal just 27 seconds into the half to take a 2-1 lead. After the goal, the Falcons pushed on the attack to tie the game. After a few shots went wide of the goal, Sam Phillips got a chance near the goal in the 64th minute, but the sharp angle shot was saved by the Stags' goalkeeper and CMS kept their 2-1 lead. The Falcons kept the pressure on the Stags defense and Owen Resch helped the Falcons earn a penalty kick in the 68th minute. The penalty kick though went just above the crossbar, and the Stags one goal lead remained. The Falcons continued the attack in the 73rd minute. Caleb Daniels started the play on defense with a long ball past the midfield line to Gabe Redcay. Redcay took a couple of dribbles and then passed the ball over to Patrick Lee. Lee took a touch and then ripped a shot, past the Stas' goalkeeper, and into the back of the net to tie the game at two. The Stags though quickly answered with a goal less than two minutes later to take a 3-2 lead. The Falcons looked to tie the game once again in the 81st minute. Kyle Spodnik sent a cross into the box to a wide-open Patrick Lee and he headed the ball into the back of the net to tie the game at three. The Stags did not go away and scored the game-winning goal in the 87th minute to earn the 4-3 win.
 
Stats
Patrick Lee led the Falcons with two goals. Jalen Keller scored his first career goal. Gabe Redcay added two assists. Kyle Spodnik added an assist. The Falcons totaled 15 shots with six shots on goal. The Stags tallied 11 shots with seven shots on goal. The Falcons earned nine corner kicks to the Stags four. Killian O'Reilly earned the start in goal for the Falcons and made three saves.
 
Next
The Falcons take on the Profs of Rowan University on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 5:00 p.m.