ALLENTOWN, Pa. – On Wednesday evening, the twentieth-ranked Messiah University men's soccer team defeated the Mules of Muhlenberg College, 2-1. The Falcons opened the first half strong with an early goal from
Jalen Keller by
Elijah Perry and
Sam Phillips to give the Falcons the lead. In the 28th minute, the Mules tied the game with a goal. Neither team found the back of the net in the remainder of the first half, to keep the game tied at the break. After some back-and-forth play to start the second half,
Chase England scored a goal from
Gabe Redcay to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead in the 66th minute.
Killian O'Reilly made a pair of saves in the final 10 minutes to earn the 2-1 win.
Up next, the Falcons host the Lions of Albright College on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 5:00 p.m.
First Half
The Falcons looked to get on the board early. The Falcons pushed the ball forward through the midfield.
Elijah Perry quickly sent a ball towards the corner to
Sam Phillips. Phillips sent a one-timer pass that tipped off the goalkeepers' hands and right to
Jalen Keller. Keller ripped a shot into the bottom-right corner to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute. The Falcons kept on the attack with a shot on goal from Phillips and
Owen Resch, but each shot was saved to keep the Falcons lead at 1-0 in the 15th minute. After some back-and-forth play, the Mules tied the game in the 28th minute. The Falcons looked to quickly take back the lead with a shot on goal from Perry and Resch, but each shot was saved to keep the score tied in the 32nd minute. The Falcons added a shot on goal from
Cam Holiday in the 42nd minute, but the Mules' goalkeeper stood tall to keep the game tied headed into the half.
Second Half
After some chances from both sides to start the second half, the Falcons looked to break the tied in the 66th minute.
Killian O'Reilly started the play, throwing the ball from the box to
Gabe Redcay. Redcay sent a long ball that made its way towards the Muhlenberg defense. After a couple of bounces,
Chase England out hustled the Mules defender to the ball and sent a shot into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. After a pair of shots on goal were saved from
Cam Holiday, the Mules looked for a pair of final chances to tie the game in the final 10 minutes. The Mules sent two shots on goal, but each shot was saved by
Killian O'Reilly to give the Falcons the 2-1 win.
Stats
Chase England and
Jalen Keller each scored for the Falcons.
Elijah Perry,
Sam Phillips, and
Gabe Redcay each tallied an assist. The Falcons totaled 24 shots with 11 shots on goal. The Mules tallied 11 shots with three shots on goal. Messiah earned nine corner kicks to Muhlenberg's one.
Killian O'Reilly earned the win in goal and made two clutch saves in the final 10 minutes to secure the Falcons win.
Next
The Falcons host the Lions of Albright College on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 5:00 p.m.
