GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday evening, the sixteenth-ranked Messiah University men's soccer team used a two-goal first half to defeat the Lions of Penn St. Harrisburg, 2-0. The Falcons got on the board early with a goal from
Elijah Perry by
Sam Phillips and
Jalen Keller to give the Falcons the lead in the 17th minute. The Falcons added their second goal of the first half on a strike from
Cam Holiday to give Messiah the 2-0 lead at the break. After some back-and-forth play throughout the second half,
Owen Resch scored the Falcons final tally from
Kyle Spodnik, in the 86th minute, to give the Falcons the 3-0 win.
Up next, the Falcons host the Blue Jays of Elizabethtown College on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 5:00 p.m. for the annual Marshmallow Bowl.
First Half
The Lions started the game strong on the attack with a shot on goal in the fourth minute, but
Killian O'Reilly made an early save to keep the game scoreless. After some back-and-forth play, the Falcons looked to get on the board in the seventeenth minute.
Grant Shreiner got the ball just ahead of the midfield line and quickly passed it to
Jalen Keller. Keller beat his man and sent a through ball towards the back post to
Sam Phillips. Phillips one touched the ball across the box to a wide-open
Elijah Perry, who sent a shot into the back of the goal to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The Falcons continued to put pressure the Lions defense in the 32nd minute.
Cam Holiday got the ball in the top right corner of the box. Holiday made a move and ripped a shot into the bottom left corner of the goal to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead. The Lions looked for a late chance with a shot on goal in the 44th minute, but O'Reilly made the save to keep the Falcons 2-0 lead at the break.
Second Half
The Falcons looked to add to their in the opening minutes of the second half.
Sam Phillips sent a shot on goal, but the Lions goalkeeper made the save to keep the Falcons lead at two. The Falcons continued on the attack in the 57th minute with back-to-back shots that rang off the post to prevent the Falcons from adding to their lead. The Lions continued to battle and looked to get a goal to get within one. They had a pair of shots on goal, but
Killian O'Reilly made a pair of saves to keep the Falcons lead at two in the 61st minute. The Lions stayed on the attack in the 76th minute, but again O'Reilly stood tall and made the save to keep the shutout. The Falcons looked to add another goal in the final five minutes.
Owen Resch gathered the ball the midfield and dribbled all the way towards the top of the box. Resch and
Kyle Spodnik worked a give-and-go and then Resch ripped a shot into the back of the net to close out the Falcons 3-0 win.
Stats
Cam Holiday,
Elijah Perry, and
Owen Resch each scored a goal.
Jalen Keller,
Sam Phillips, and
Kyle Spodnik each tallied an assist. The Falcons totaled 14 shots with five shots on goal. The Lions tallied 16 shots with six shots on goal. Messiah earned eight corner kicks to Penn St. Harrisburg's six.
Killian O'Reilly earned the shutout win for the Falcons with six saves.
Next
The Falcons host the Blue Jays of Elizabethtown College on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 5:00 p.m. for the annual Marshmallow Bowl.
