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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Doug Roorbach, Sports Information Director 585.567.9556

Men's Soccer Team Falls to Messiah, 3-0

 

Grantham, Pa.—The Messiah College Falcons showed why they are the three-time defending champions of NCAA Division III today, defeating the Houghton College men 3-0.

          “They controlled the play,” said Highlander Head Coach Matthew Webb, “They’re good with the ball and kept it on the floor. We gave them too much time and space, and we had our worst performance of the year defensively. I’m disappointed.”

          Messiah dominated the first half and the Falcon’s Kai Kasiguran scored midway through to make it 1-0 (pictured). The Highlanders’ defense held—albeit shakily—for the rest of the first period and they went into halftime 1-0.

          Early in the second half the Highlanders started playing better and creating some chances. They committed more numbers to the attack and possessed the ball more. Just a minute into the second half a Messiah defender had to clear a ball off the line on a corner kick.

          Just when it looked as if Houghton might threaten, though, the Falcons took that clearance, counter-attacked and Kasiguran sent a through ball to spring Mike Rinker on a breakaway. Rinker scored to make it 2-0.

          The second half continued that way, the Highlanders pressing forward and the Falcons looking to counter-attack. Falcon’s goalkeeper Nick Blossey made several critical saves, including stopping Johnny Kimani on a breakaway (pictured at right), to preserve his shutout.

          The third goal came on a counter-attack, as Patrick Lenehan broke in on goal and was taken down in the box for a Messiah penalty kick. Lenehan converted the PK to close out the scoring in the 68th minute.

          The statistics show a game that was closer than the score line might indicate, with Messiah outshooting Houghton just 15-14 and having a 5-3 edge in corners. Highlanders goalkeeper Erik Lefebvre had six saves.

          The win moves the Falcons to 10-1 and drops the Highlanders to 4-2-3, their second loss in a row after starting the season with a seven-game unbeaten streak. The Highlanders will look to turn things around when they host the Point Park University Pioneers for Houghton’s Homecoming on Saturday, October 6 at 4 p.m. on Burke Field.

 

Houghton College has deep and solid roots in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, where our teams use their commitment to excellence, both on the field-of-play and in the classroom, as a platform for their strong and unique emphasis on Sports Ministry. Their goal is to make a difference for the Kingdom on campus, in Allegany County, in the Northeast and around the world.  Houghton is one of only 13 institutions who have been hand-selected by the NAIA to serve as "Champions of Character" Program Centers, opening the door for Houghton to be a leader, both in the Northeast and nationally, in character education. Through hands-on, innovative community outreach initiatives, Houghton coaches and student-athletes are working together to change the culture of sport and to change our culture through sport.