Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Gettysburg came out firing, but ninth-ranked Messiah College stood firm and picked up the final two goals of the match to pull out a 3-1 win over the Bullets in non-conference men's soccer action at Clark Field Wednesday night.
 
Gettysburg (2-2), which had surrendered 12 consecutive goals over the last three meetings with Messiah (4-0-1), put the visiting Falcons on notice with a quick offensive display. The Bullets deftly moved the ball up the field following the contest's opening minute with junior Tyler Shaffer passing in between a pair of defenders to sophomore Kyle Franks inside the box. Franks fired two quick shots, but Falcon goalie Brandon West made a pair of diving saves to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.
 
Messiah came right back with a drive down the field and a shot by Jack Thompson from the left side of the box. Senior goalie Jamie Hahn made a diving save to his right to keep the Falcons at bay.
 
The visitors found pay-dirt on one of their match-high 11 corner kicks in the match. Brian Ramirez sliced a pass out of the left corner to the far post and Carter Robbins headed the ball into the net at 15:14. The one-goal deficit would stand as Hahn picked up three more saves to close the first half.
 
It didn't take long for the Bullets to respond in the second stanza. Gettysburg received a free kick just shy of the midfield line and senior Craig Heckman blasted the ball into the box. The Messiah defense was unable to control the ball and Shaffer was there for the conversion and his first tally of the season at 55:25.
 
The tie would hold for 15 minutes until Messiah once again took advantage out of the corner, this time with Bryant Myer supplying the looping pass and Luke Helmuth finishing off the header in the 71st minute. The Falcons would add an insurance goal as Matt Kyne kicked a pass out of the backfield to Mike Kovach at the top of the box in the 76th minute.
 
Messiah out-shot Gettysburg 14-6 and held an 11-7 lead in corner kicks.
 
Hahn finished with six saves for the Bullets, while West picked up four stops for the visitors. Shaffer and Franks each finished with a pair of shots for Gettysburg.
 
Gettysburg opens its Centennial Conference schedule this Saturday, Sept. 15, when it hosts Ursinus College at 4 p.m.