Third-Ranked Messiah Turns Lights Out In Flash Against Kean
Posted: 9/13/2008
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Junior Calvin Todd wrapped up a frenetic first half of play with his first goal of the season Saturday against Kean.

Grantham, PA — Coming into Saturday evening, the Kean University men’s soccer team was riding a four-game winning streak, posting shut outs in each of those contests.

It took Messiah just over six minutes to undo that trend.

Three times.

The Falcons — ranked third in the latest NSCAA/Adidas Top 25 Poll — erupted for scores at the 9:25, 11:31 and 15:31 marks Saturday night against Kean, generating some of its most explosive offense of the young season in cruising to a 5-0 win at Shoemaker Field. With its last meeting against Kean yielding a 2-1 Messiah win in double-overtime (Oct. 9, 2006), this year’s Falcons made certain to decide things much more quickly, eventually out-shooting the Cougars by a 28-2 difference in running away with the victory.

It was a much different pace and feel than that of the team's 1-1 double-overtime tie at Gettysburg College just three days ago, which felt like ancient history by halftime Saturday.

“We respect Kean and we respect the (New Jersey Athletic Conference),” said Brad McCarty, Messiah assistant coach. “I thought we came out sharp tonight and finished our opportunities, which had a lot to do with us putting our shots on goal. I thought they struggled a bit defensively with our width early on, and we were able to take advantage of that.”

It did not take long for the Falcons to start creating opportunities, and just a bit over nine minutes into the action, the floodgates opened. Sophomore Geoff Pezon got things started with an absolutely hammered goal at the 9:25 point, taking a through ball from senior Matt Dorsey and blasting a rocket to the near post from 20 yards out.

Pezon would attempt to one-up himself just two minutes later, this time sending an even firmer frozen rope to the back of the net from 25 yards out off a free kick with 11:31 elapsed.

When freshman Trevor Lee tapped in an endline drop pass from classmate Derek Black at the 15:31 mark, Messiah possessed a 3-0 lead after a three-goal in six-minute and six-seconds stretch.

The visiting Cougars would eventually find their collective footing, as Kean’s Andres Berriel nearly scored for the visitors 25 minutes into play — banging a wide-open look off the post.

Ironically, a Cougars’ misstep would lead to Messiah’s fourth goal, as junior Calvin Todd dribble attacked a defender with just over 33 minutes of play elapsed. Kean’s player slipped and fell on the wet turf, allowing Todd a one-on-one chance with the keeper.

He promptly beat the Cougars’ goalie with a shot to the near post off his left foot, putting the game entirely out of reach in a 4-0 score.

“It was good for Cal to pick us up at that point, after we had kind of lost some urgency for a period,” McCarty said. “Our second group really did some good things tonight, and it was good to see Cal get his first goal of the year at an important time.”

Messiah was able to tack on an additional score early in the second half — Lee scored off a feed from senior Brett Faro in the midfield just over four minutes into the period — but a late goalkeeper change from the visitors would help stop the bleeding. Kean’s Kyle Kemp finished with five saves in the game’s final 36:23, denying what could have been an even more lopsided final.

“I thought we played better in the second half, but Kean’s backup keeper made a number of low-hand saves and played really well,” McCarty said.

With the win, Messiah posted its second shut out of the year, while all 23 field players appeared.

“As much fun as it is to score goals and attack, it’s critical for us to be solid in the back and limit (opponents’) scoring opportunities,” McCarty said. “It was good to get a lot of guys minutes tonight. To get that experience, learn and improve from it, that’s important.”

Messiah will next remain idle until Thursday, when the team travels to DeSales University. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. in Center Valley, PA.