Second-Half Explosion Blacks Out Gordon As Messiah Rolls, 5-0
Posted: 9/4/2009
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Sophomore Derek Black was the center of attention after scoring three goals in the span of 10 minutes against Gordon Friday night.

Grantham, PA — Make no mistake, Derek Black really, really, really enjoys home openers.

The sophomore winger scored three of Messiah’s four second-half goals Friday night against Gordon College at Shoemaker Field, turning a 2-0 lead into a 5-0 blowout in the span of 10 minutes and four seconds.

It was Black’s second multiple-goal performance in his second home-opening appearance, as the Pottstown, Pa. native tallied a pair of scores in Messiah’s first home game a year ago — a 3-1 win over Wilkes University.

Black’s performance Friday night overshadowed what initially were two bigger storylines, as junior Nick Thompson headed in two early goals to put Messiah on top.

There was also that small detail of the storied program having a new head coach for the first time in 13 years.

“I don’t really think about that,” first-year head coach Brad McCarty said afterward. “We want to play to a standard, regardless of who our opponent is, or what the score is, or when or where the game is being played. There were times tonight where we played up to our standard. For that, I was pleased.”

McCarty, who assumed the reins of the program following 12-year head coach Dave Brandt’s departure to the U.S. Naval Academy last December, was greeted with multiple banners and signs of support amid a packed Shoemaker Field crowd.

The team’s play would slowly steal the spotlight.

Continual pressure and possession helped Messiah (1-0) to a 25-1 advantage in total shots on the night, sending Gordon (0-2) reeling to protect its goal.

The elder Thompson put the Falcons on the board with just 10:43 elapsed in the contest, rising above the masses to head in a gorgeous chip from senior Calvin Todd off the left flank. As Messiah dropped a pass back to Todd, the senior sent a floating looper off his left foot into the box, where Thompson was there to meet it just inside the 18-yard box.

A rainbow of a header followed, as Fighting Scots’ keeper Zach Frey was unable to get to the far post in time.

And while Messiah would create one chance after another, the team’s second goal wouldn’t occur until after a stern halftime talk from McCarty, as the 1-0 lead on the scoreboard didn’t seem to do the Falcons’ play justice.

“I was a little disappointed at halftime, simply because we had some good scoring opportunities that we didn’t connect,” McCarty said. “Obviously in the second half, we scored some goals.”

Thompson again started the onslaught, taking a nearly identical chip from Todd and heading a violent ball into the back of the net just two and a half minutes into the period.

It then turned into the Derek Black show, as the sophomore scored at the 49:56, 53:15 and 60:00 marks, sending the packed Shoemaker Field crowd into a frenzy and McCarty scrambling for a substitution.

While Black’s third goal may have been a bit of a muck — the ball landed at his feet in point-blank range following a scrum in front of the Gordon goal — his first two were absolute gems. On each, Black beat a pair of defenders on the right side, blasting a shot to the far post on the first and the near post on the second. Junior Jon Burke was credited for an assist on the latter, giving Black a nice feed which he used as momentum before splitting the Fighting Scots backline.

“Sometimes it takes a first half to wear down an opponent before you finish some opportunities,” McCarty said. “I thought tonight we circulated the ball well, and showed some things that we’ve been working on in practice. It was also good to see us play with a lot of depth. I feel like we have two guys at every position that can play well, and at some positions we’ve got three guys. We saw a lot of positives.”

McCarty utilized 25 of Messiah’s 26 available players in the win, resting many of the game’s starters throughout the second half. Gordon finished with one shot on the evening and three corner kicks — two of which came late in the second period.

Messiah — ranked number one in the NSCAA/Adidas Pre-Season Top 25 Poll — will now turn around to host Fredonia State University Saturday night, as the Falcons prepare for two straight double-game weekends. McCarty’s squad will host the Blue Devils at 7:30 p.m.

“This weekend presents a chance for us to play against teams that we don’t normally get to play, and it gives us an opportunity to play two quality opponents in back-to-back games,” McCarty said. “I feel good because we do have depth. We have guys off the bench that can do things as well as our starters. That’s a good position to be in.”