Grantham, Pa. (Nov. 6, 2014) – Top-seeded Messiah College buried a trio of chances in a 3-0 win over #4 Alvernia University Thursday evening in Commonwealth Conference Men's Soccer semifinal action at Shoemaker Field.
 
The Falcons opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Mike Kovach finished a header in front of the Alvernia net assisted by Bryant Myer.
 
The hosts made it 2-0 when senior Brian Ramirez scored on a corner kick in the 23rd minute.  Ramirez curled the kick into a crowd in front of Alvernia keeper Zach Rider.  No one got a foot on the ball as it skipped off the wet turf and through the screen inside the far post.
 
The hosts maintained the 2-0 lead into the halftime break and added the final goal 15 minutes into the second half when Jeremy Payne sent a cross into the box and Colby Thomas finished on a one-time redirection.
 
Messiah advances to the Commonwealth Final and will host second-seeded and defending champion Lycoming College on Saturday evening at 6:00.
 
Rider finished with two saves in net for the Crusaders who return home to await a possible bid into the Eastern College Athletic Conference South Region Championships to be announced Monday afternoon.

#1 Messiah 3, #4 Alvernia 0