MECHANICSBURG, Pa. – The Mustangs recorded a loss to Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) opponent nationally No. 2-ranked Messiah University on Wednesday evening. The Mustangs fall to 2-5-5 overall (1-1 in conference) while the Falcons remain undefeated at 10-0-1 overall (1-0 in conference).
Messiah led for the duration of the match in shots, outshooting the Mustangs by a 23-1 margin.
The Falcons opened the first half hot with their initial attempt blocked in the eighth minute off the foot of senior defender Grant Johnson. A second attempt arrived in the 13
th minute from fifth-year midfielder Luke Brautigam, who missed just above the net. Senior forward Matt McDonald notched the Falcons' third attempt in the 16
th minute, missing just right of the post. Three minutes later, the Falcons got on the board with a low left netter from Johnson, 1-0.
The Mustangs fought for possession as the half ticked on. McDonald attempted a shot in the 26th minute, blocked by the Mustangs. At goal, SU freshman goalkeeper
Nolen Olson-Warwick saved an attempt in the 31
st minute by sophomore forward Stefan Leitzel. In the 37
th minute, freshman forward Patrick Lee scored, and Davis Pagett made an attempt to round out the first half in the 42
nd minute, with the shot denied by SU senior goalkeeper
Kristian Slaby.
With the score now 2-0, the Falcons shot in the 42
nd minute, but Olson-Warwick tipped the ball, preventing a goal. The half finished with a missed attempt in the 44
th minute by Falcons freshman midfielder Isaac Schmitke off a tipped header.
The second half kicked off with the Falcons continuing a strong offensive push. Senior forward Ben Lefever's shot was blocked by the Mustangs in the 50
th minute. Just over three minutes later, the Falcons made the game 3-0 with a goal by senior midfielder Cole Cristian. The Mustangs continued the tug-of-war for possession, not quitting in attempts to regain the ball. The Mustangs made their first attempt of the match in the 62
nd minute off the foot of junior forward
Edson DeMata Ribeiro. The Falcons' defense was laser-focused, and the attempt was saved by fifth-year goalkeeper Jared Pavlovich. Another Falscon attempt in the 66
th minute missed high. Messiah saw the back of the net in the 70
th minute off the foot of freshman midfielder Davis Paggett, bringing their lead to 4-0.
Senior goalkeeper
Kristian Slaby at goal in the second half denied an attempt in the 78
th minute from junior defender Caleb Aldridge. Slaby saved another attempt in the 81
st minute by sophomore forward Dylan Englehart. Totaling over 20 shots by the tail end of the second half, the Falcons' Zackary Venus attempted a final shot in the 85
th minute, earning Slaby his fourth save of the match. Minutes later, Slaby earned his fifth save off an attempt from Leitzel, as time ran out with the final score 4-0 for the Falcons.
UP NEXT
- For Stevenson: All home events for the remainder of the men's season will take place at Mustang Stadium. The Mustangs host MAC Commonwealth conference opponent Albright College on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. Check back for updates on next week's matches.
- For Messiah: The Falcons continue conference play as they travel to Alvernia University on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m.