XML Box Score Grantham, PA – Five different Falcons scored goals in the first-half to lead Messiah to an 8-0 victory over Alvernia University on Wednesday night. The win moved Messiah, ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the NSCAA and
D3Soccer.com Top 25 polls, respectively, to 13-1 on the season.
The Falcons scored early and often against the Crusaders to the tune of five goals in the first 18:18.
Jeremy Payne scored his 10th goal of the season to start the onslaught, putting one touch on a square pass into the middle of the box from
Mike Kovach.
The game-winner was scored at the 2:40 mark and was followed up less than five minutes later by Kovach himself.
Jack Thompson and
Joshua Wood both collected assists on the play after Thompson attacked hard through the midfield and put a through ball to Wood. He received the pass and, while managing to keep his defender on his hip, went quickly to the top of the 18-yard line as David Giannini raced off his line to deter a shot. The Falcons' leading goal-scorer recognized the keeper's advance and touched quickly to the right side to a streaking Kovach for a shot into the open net.
Now in total control, Messiah broke the game open with another three goals in the next 10 minutes. Thompson made it 3-0 in the 13th minute with an assist from Wood. This time, Wood was posted on top of the box and turned over his right shoulder to play wide to Thompson inside the wing. After touching to the end line he cut hard to the middle and put a sharp shot on the ground to the center of the goal. Giannini appeared to cover the ball on the line but quickly stood in frustration after realizing the ball slipped through his grasp and into the goal.
Sheldon Myer put the Falcons on top 4-0 with his first goal of the year in the 17th minute on a hard strike from 25 yards out in the midfield that deflected off a defender and sailed into the left side of the net. Thompson served up Messiah's fifth goal less than two minutes later, returning the favor to Wood with a high volley to the goal where Wood put a clean header past Giannini.
Kovach and Wood each added their second goals of the game in the first 17 minutes of the second-half. Ramirez collected an assist to Kovach with a textbook slot from the middle to his teammate on the right side. Ramirez nearly collected an assist of Wood's goal, too, with a through ball to about seven yards out, but backup keeper Matt Wells saved Wood's first shot before he pushed through a second chance.
Jacob Bender completed the scoring in the 78th minute with an impressive strike from outside the left corner of the 18. He curved his shot to the far side where it banged off the post and into the goal. Wells initially gave up on the shot, thinking it would sail wide.
The Falcons finished with a 24-2 edge in shots, with and incredible 18 of their shots going on net. Giannini and Wells combined for 10 saves with Messiah's three keepers—
Brandon West,
Aaron Hennigan, and
Jonathan Weaver—going untested.
The win also moved Messiah to 4-0 in the Commonwealth Conference. Alvernia falls to 4-8-2 overall and 1-2-1 in the conference.
Messiah will next play on Saturday, Oct. 19 in their
Homecoming Day match scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
