Messiah Advances To Sectionals
Posted: 3/12/2008
More Men's Soccer news

Grantham, PA -- The Messiah Men's Soccer team scored three goals on four shots in the first half on their way to a 4-0 victory over Greensboro College. The NCAA Regional match was played Saturday evening on Shoemaker Field. Junior Matt Dorsey (New Freedom, PA) had two goals on the night to give the junior winger seven for the year. The Falcons move on to the NCAA Sectional Championships as they will face UAA power The University of Rochester. The victory moves Messiah's record to 19-2 while the loss ends The Pride's season with a final record of 14-5-3.

Messiah didn't take long to get on the score sheet when just 66 seconds into the match the Falcons found the back of the net. Senior winger Ben Jordan (Williamsport, MD) took a throw in that found the head of Dan Visser (West Chester, PA) who beat the keeper for the game winning goal. The tally was only Visser's second of the season as the senior gave Messiah a 1-0 lead.

Greensboro didn't bat an eye and for the next twenty minutes maintained possession in the Falcons half. The Pride was everywhere both offensively and defensively while Messiah had trouble pressuring defensively and couldn't keep the ball. In the 22nd minute the Falcons scored against the run of play when freshman Nick Thompson (Hudson, OH) turned on his defensive side of midfield and played a long through ball to Dorsey. The junior winger ran through a slide tackle and was one on one with the keeper as he opened up his hips and grooved the ball far post.

In an interesting twist of fate the 2-0 lead did nothing to deter Greensboro's desire and ability to maintain possession in the Falcons half of the field. With five minutes to go in the half Messiah moved the ball down field, switched it from the left to the right and senior right back Eric Frey (Glen Arm, MD) crossed a beautiful bending ball to Mike Rinker (Hatfield, PA). The junior forward headed the ball down into the keeper and then hammered the rebound into the back of the net. The first half ended with Greensboro winning the territory and possession battle, but lost the war as the scoreboard read 3-0 Messiah.

The second half started very similar to the first half with the Falcons scoring just 2 1/2 minutes into the run of play to put the game out of reach 4-0. Ben Jordan threw the ball to Dorsey who scored easily for his second of the match. The similarity in halves ended right there as the Falcons dominated play the remaining half in both possession and chances created. Messiah ended up outshooting The Pride 12-6 in the second 45 minutes.

The Falcons finished with 16 shots and 4 corners to Greensboro's 9 shots and 3 corners. Jared Clugston (Red Hill, PA) started in goal for Messiah and recorded 2 saves while Nick Blossey (Waterford, PA) subbed in and was asked to make a single save. Gardiner was in goal for the Pride and tallied 4 saves on the night.

Messiah will play the University of Rochester next weekend in the first game of the Sectional Championships. The times and location of the matches will be determined at a later time.

Time
Team
Goal
Assist
1:06
MESSIAH
Dan Visser (2)
Ben Jordan (3)
21:46
MESSIAH
Matt Dorsey (6)
Nick Thompson (3)
39:55
MESSIAH
Mike Rinker (8)
Unassisted
47:33
MESSIAH
Matt Dorsey (7)
Ben Jordan (4)