ASTON, Pa. – On Saturday evening, the fourteenth-ranked Messiah University men's soccer team fell in the MAC Commonwealth Championship game to the Knights of Neumann University, 1-0 in a tight battle. In a back-and-forth first half, the Falcons sent one shot on goal but could not find the back of the net.
Killian O'Reilly made three saves in the first half to hold the score at 0-0 at the break. Both teams continued the back-and-forth battle in the second half with the Falcons sending four shots on goal and the Knights sending five shots on goal, but each goalkeeper made the saves to keep the game tied. The Knights though scored on a penalty kick off a hand ball with nine seconds remaining to earn the 1-0 win.
Up next, the Falcons will look for an at-large to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The selection show will take place on
NCAA.com on Monday, Nov. 9 at 11:00 a.m.
First Half
The Falcons offense opened the game looking for an early goal. After a few wide shots,
Kyle Spodnik sent a shot on goal, but the Neumann goalkeeper made the save to keep the Falcons off the board in the 14th minute. The Knights looked for their first chance in the 21st minute with a shot on goal, but
Killian O'Reilly made the save to keep the game tied. The Knights continued to attack with a shot on goal in the 34th minute, but once against O'Reilly made the save. Both teams then sent shots off the iron with
Caleb Daniels sending a shot off the crossbar and Neumann sending a shot off the left post to continue the scoreless battle. The Knights sent one more shot on goal before the break and once against O'Reilly stood tall to keep the game tied at the break.
Second Half
The Falcons started the second half strong with a shot on goal from
Owen Resch, but the Knights' goalkeeper made the save to keep the game tied in the 50th minute. The Knights then started to get on the attack with a pair of shots on goal, but
Killian O'Reilly and
Samuel Godoy who came in due to an injury made a save each to hold the game scoreless in the 59th minute. After some back-and-forth play, the Knights sent a shot on goal in the 69th minute, but Godoy made another big save to keep the game tied. The Falcons quickly went back on the attack, and
Zach Buys sent a shot on goal, but the Knights goalkeeper made the save to keep the game tied. After another save in the 73rd minute from Godoy, the Falcons went back on the attack. Resch sent a shot on goal in the 78th minute, but the Knights goalkeeper made another save to keep the game tied. The Knights continued on the attack and sent two more shots on goal, but
Samuel Godoy again stood tall to keep the game scoreless with 16 seconds remaining. After a handball in the box, the Knights got a penalty kick and scored the game-winner to earn the Conference Championship.
Stats
The Falcons totaled 16 shots with five shots on goal. The Knights tallied 24 shots with 10 shots on goal. Messiah earned 11 corners to Neumann's six.
Killian O'Reilly earned the start in goal and made four saves.
Samuel Godoy also earned time in goal and made five saves.
Next
The Falcons will look for an at-large to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The selection show will take place on NCAA.com on Monday, Nov. 9 at 11:00 a.m.
