The Lancaster Bible College Men's Soccer team made the short trip to Mechanicsburg, Pa. to take on (RV) Messiah in non-conference play, fighting to a strong result of 6-3 in a defeat. The Chargers drop to 2-6 overall while the Falcons improve to 5-1-1 overall.
How it Happened:
The Falcons scored just four minutes into the game on their first shot, then again just over four minutes later to take a 2-0 lead at home in the first 10 minutes of play. After a corner kick and two off-target shots, Messiah connected again around the 13-minute mark to extend the lead to 3-0.
Micah Dressler (So.) made a save in goal soon after, then the Chargers drew a corner kick before Messiah flipped the field quickly with two corners and two shots in a short span. They added another goal with about 20 minutes to go in the first half, then
Riley Bills (Fr.) had the first shot of the game for LBC that missed high. After another save by Dressler,
Jacob Garrett (Fr.) connected on a goal with less than eight minutes left, his first career score as the Chargers got on the board while facing a three-goal deficit at halftime.
Messiah kept up the offensive pressure in the second half with three corners in the first 10 minutes, capping it with another score as they got number five for the night. Just four minutes later, the Falcons capitalized on a foul in the box with a penalty kick goal to extend the lead to its highest of the night at 6-1. Late in the game,
Chris Jackson (Sr.) made a save in goal before the Chargers gained momentum, with
Gabe Bormolini (Fr.) finding the back of the net for a score off an assist from
Derek Rhine (Sr.) to add another for LBC. With less than four minutes remaining, the Chargers found another score as
Gabe Madanat (Jr.) connected with
Jacob Melleby (Fr.) for LBC's third goal of the game, ending a solid fight against a strong Falcons team on the road.
By the Numbers:
Team Stats
- Shots: Lancaster Bible 6,
Messiah 29
- Shots on Goal: Lancaster Bible 4,
Messiah 12
- Corner Kicks: Lancaster Bible 1,
Messiah 9
Scoring Summary
5' MES – Kyle Spodnik (4) [Elijah Perry (1)]
9' MES – Owen Resch (3) [Elijah Perry (2)]
14' MES – Kyle Spodnik (5) [Sam Phillips (3)]
25' MES – Chase England (2) [Gianni Pezzino (1)]
38' LBC –
Jacob Garrett (1)
56' MES – Jalen Keller (1) [Kyle Spodnik (4)]
60' MES – Owen Resch (4)
{Penalty}
74' LBC –
Gabe Bormolini (2) [
Derek Rhine (1)]
87' LBC –
Jacob Melleby (3) [
Gabe Madanat (1)]
Goalkeeping
-
Micah Dressler (LBC): 4 Saves, 4 GA, LOSS (2-5)
-
Chris Jackson (LBC): 2 Saves, 2 GA
- Killian O'Reilly (MES): 1 Save, 1 GA, WIN (5-1-1)
- Samuel Godoy (MES): 0 Saves, 2 GA
Information to Know:
This was the Chargers' fourth matchup against Messiah all-time, falling to 0-4 against the Falcons after playing them each of the past four seasons. This is the most goals the Chargers have scored against Messiah in a single match (3) and the second time facing the Falcons as a team ranked in the USC National Top-25 Poll (2023). Three goals are the most the Chargers have scored in a loss since the 2014 season (9/11 vs Stevenson) and their most in a loss/tie since October 3, 2023 against #6 Lebanon Valley.
Jacob Garrett netted his first career goal in tonight's match, playing in just his second game of the season in his first year. Both
Derek Rhine (4th season) and
Gabe Madanat (3rd season) notched their first career assists tonight in the second half.
Up Next:
The Chargers open up United East Conference play on the road this Saturday, September 26 as they travel to Langhorne, Pa. to face Cairn at 3:30 p.m.
