ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– In a homecoming test against the top-ranked Messiah University Falcons, Eastern University Men's Soccer battled throughout, but allowed a pair of second-half goals and fell, 3-0. Ty Bleiler finished with six saves in goal for the Eagles. 

The Falcons (13-0-1, 3-0) had much of the possession early, and their veteran group forced the Eastern defense to pick its spots on when and where to apply pressure. The Eagles (3-6-3, 0-3), for the most part, did just that. In the opening 15 minutes, the Falcons had a pair of aspirational efforts miss by considerable margins. The guests had a legitimate chance turned away in the 19th minute when Parker Walls cleared a rolling shot off the goal line to keep the match at 0-0.

That slow shot was the only Messiah shot on target until Matt McDonald snapped in a one-time effort in the 25th minute. That 1-0 lead stood through halftime. messiah had a 5-to-1 edge in first-half shots and a 6-to-1 advantage in corners, but Bleiler had just one first-half save.

The Falcon pressure continued int he second half, and the visitors broke the game ope with a pair of goals right at the hour mark. The first came on a corner kick, and the second, less than two minutes later following an Eastern turnover near the top of the box. Even down three, the Eagles fought through the fatigue of chasing and were able to take a few forays into the Messiah end. In the 65th minute, Dahmir Steele pressed through a Messiah defender and won a chance, but his shot attempt was blocked at the top of the box. Ninety seconds later, Kade Seip put a shot on target from distance. 

Walls, Seip, Matthew Foxworth, and Steven Fajardo went the distance in the back row for the Eagles.

Eastern will play at York College on Wednesday evening.