Story Courtesy of Messiah Athletics

GENEVA, N.Y. – On Friday afternoon, the Messiah University men's soccer team used a game-winning goal in overtime from Patrick Lee to defeat the sixteenth-ranked Statesmen of Hobart College, 1-0. The Falcons had numerous chances in the first half, including a goal that was taken off the board in the 17th minute due to a foul call. Kessler Forrest added two first-half saves to keep the game tied at zero headed into the break. The Statesmen had the best chance of the second half, with a shot that was deflected and looked like it was headed into goal, but Matt Griffin made an incredible play of the goal line to keep the ball out of the goal. Neither team could get on the board in the second half and the game headed to overtime. Patrick Lee scored the game-winner for the Falcons just over two minutes into overtime to give Messiah the 1-0 win and advance them into the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
 
Up next, the Falcons take on the winner of Calvin University and Grove City College, tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. in the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Hobart College.
 
First Half
The Falcons got the first chance of the game on a shot from Davis Pagett, but the Statesmen goalkeeper made a diving save to keep game tied in the early minutes. The Falcons looked to get on the board in the 17th minute. Patrick Lee stole the ball from a defender in the offensive third and sent a pass to Davis Pagett in the box. Pagett then sent a shot, past the Statesmen goalkeeper, but after a discussion between the refs, they called a foul on the Falcons before the goal was scored and the game remained scoreless. After the goal was reversed, the Statesmen got their first shot on goal in the 23rd minutes, but Kessler Forrest made a diving save to keep the game scoreless. The Falcons got another chance in the 26th minute with a Pagett shot on goal, but the Statesmen goalkeeper made another save to keep the Falcons off the board. The Falcons continued on the attack and Patrick Lee ripped a shot that looked like it was headed into the bottom-right corner, but the shot rang off the post and game remained tied with 15 minutes remaining in the half. The Statesmen got a shot on goal with 16 seconds remaining in the half, but Forrest made another save to keep the game tied at zero at the break.
 
Second Half
After some shots went wide for both teams, the Statesmen got a shot on goal in the 69th minute. After the ball looked like was headed into the back of the goal, Matt Griffin made the team save, sending the ball out of the offensive third to keep the game scoreless. Hobart continued on the attack with a corner kick in the 77th minute. The Statesmen got three shots off towards the goal, but the Falcons defense blocked all three shots to keep the game tie. The Falcons got a chance in the 78th minute with a Sam Phillips shot on goal, but the goalkeeper cut off the sharp angle shot and keep the game tied at 0-0. In the 87 minute, the Falcons earned a free kick. The Falcons sent the ball into the box and scored, but once again a foul was called in the box and was goal was called off. The Statesmen got one final shot off in the final seconds, but it went high and the score remained tied headed into overtime.
 
Overtime
Just two minutes into overtime, the Falcons looked to score the game-winner. Davis Pagett played the ball towards the right corner to Kyle Spodnik. Spodnik quickly played the ball back to Pagett inside the box and then he sent a low pass all the way towards the left side of the box. Patrick Lee got the ball on the edge of the box and dribbled past two defenders towards the goal. Lee then ripped a shot into the bottom-right corner for the game-winner to advance the Falcons to the NCAA Tournament Second Round.
 
Stats
Patrick Lee scored the game-winner for the Falcons just over two minutes into overtime. The Falcons totaled 14 shots with four shots on goal. The Statesmen tallied 11 shots with three shots on goal. The Falcons earned four corner kicks to the Statesmen's two. Kessler Forrest earned the shutout win in goal for the Falcons with two saves.
 
Next
The Falcons take on the winner of Calvin University and Grove City College, tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. in the NCAA Tournament Second Round at Hobart College.