BOX SCORE  Photos

Grantham, Pa. (Nov. 5, 2011) - Alvernia University freshman David McEwen (Cambridge, England/Upper Merion) scored on a free kick midway through the first half to force a 1-1 tie, but top-seeded Messiah College (18-0-1) answered with three straight goals in the final 18 minutes of the first half en route to a 4-1 win over the #2 Crusaders (14-4-1) in the Commonwealth Conference Men's Soccer Championship at Shoemaker Field.

Messiah opened the scoring early in the third minute when Derek Black hit a low screamer from outside the box on the left side that surprised everyone and snuck just inside the far post.

Alvernia answered with heavy pressure on Messiah keeper Jake Berry over the next 20 minutes.  Kyle Martyn (Media, Pa./Penncrest) hit a shot with his left from straight on that Berry denied and McEwen followed from a similar location, but with a similar result.  Joe Raymond (Media, Pa./Strath Haven) carried the ball down the left side and put a feed out front to Kyle Mellon (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge), but he was stoned on the doorstep.

Midway through the first half with Alvernia applying more pressure, Berry tried to claim a ball in the box, but the Crusaders kept him from gaining complete control until he fell on it outside the top of the box and was whistled for a hand ball as he crossed out of the box.  Martyn, McEwen, and Eric Franks (Reading, Pa./Exeter) went over a few options and settled on McEwen taking the direct kick, which he buried inside the for post to knot the score at 1-1.

The Falcons needed just over four minutes to respond, and did on another well-placed, long range shot.  This one from leading scorer and tournament MVP Danny Thompson who hit a strike from 25 yards out that headed straight toward the upper left corner.  Another nine minutes passed and Jeremy Payne scored on a floater for a 3-1 lead from outside the box on the right flank.  Then with under three minutes to play Aaron Myers hit a serve from the left side that caught Alvernia keeper Ben Diller (Etters, Pa./Red Land) between coming out and staying back.  Just as Diller retreated to guard the line, Mike Kovach redirected a header into the back of the net for a 4-1 Messiah lead.

Alvernia got a shot off early in the second half that was blocked by the Messiah defense, and after that the offense opportunities were few and far between.

Diller finished the night with five saves while Berry recorded a pair.

Messiah advances to the NCAA tournament as the Commonwealth's automatic qualifier while Alvernia will await its postseason fate.

#1 Messiah 4, #2 Alvernia 1