Box Score

GRANTHAM, Pa. – Gettysburg went toe-to-toe with the defending national champion for 70 minutes, but the final 20 minutes belonged to top-ranked Messiah College as the hosts ended the match on a three-goal run to pick up a 5-2 non-conference decision in men's soccer action Wednesday evening.

Coming off a thrilling 1-1 tie last fall, both teams started the action early with Messiah (5-0-0) jumping on the board first as Nick Thompson scored in the fourth minute off a pass from JP Fulton. Gettysburg (2-1-2) wasted little time in retaliating as freshman Ben Tabor (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) picked up his second career goal courtesy of a cross by senior Geoff Menge (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) at 8:54.

Tabor had an opportunity to give Gettysburg the advantage just three minutes after his score, but Falcon keeper Jared Clugston made the save to preserve the deadlock.

Messiah continued to press the offense in the opening period and out-shot the Bullets 7-3 in the period. In the 41st minute, the Falcons found a gap in the visitor's defense and Mark Jeschke took the opening for his first goal of the season, putting the hosts up 2-1 at the break.

Messiah narrowly missed adding to the lead early in the second period, but the Bullets recorded a team save at 48:25 to keep the deficit at one. Sophomore Kyle DeBlois (Cranbury, N.J./Princeton) erased that deficit 20 minutes later, taking a through ball from senior Ryan Shaffer (Biglerville, Pa./Biglerville) and blasting it inside the far post for his second score of the season.

The Falcons' continued press on the offensive end took a toll on the visitor's defense and the hosts took advantage with three goals over a 12-minute span. Joshua Wood ignited the spark with a goal off a deflected shot just past 70 minutes and Sam Woodworth followed up just eight minutes later with a goal off a pass from Geoff Pezon. Thompson capped the flurry with a penalty-kick goal in the 83rd minute.

With a dozen shots in the second half alone, Messiah held a 19-7 advantage in the shot count. The Falcons also took nine corner kicks to the Bullets' five.

Tabor and DeBlois each finished with two shots for Gettysburg. Freshman Mike Walmer (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) was handed his first collegiate loss in goal.

Pezon tallied four shots for the Falcons, while Thompson recorded three. Clugston finished with a match-high three saves.

The Bullets open their Centennial Conference schedule at home this Saturday, Sept. 19, against Ursinus College. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start.