GRANTHAM, Pa.– Eastern University Men's Soccer had opportunities to score, but the host Messiah University Falcons made their chances count on the way to a 3-0 win in the league opener for both sides.

The Falcons (5-5-1) came into the match on the heels of one of their roughest patches in recent memory. The five-time defending MAC Commonwealth Champions had failed to win a match in their last four outings and had dropped five matches in the last seven. Bolstered by a big Homecoming crowd, the Falcons found their first goal int he eighth minute on shot into the lower corner by Josh Bratager. Bratager doubled the lead in the 28th minute. The third goal came after a short clear on a corner kick in in the 35th minute. Kyle Spodnick's shot slipped right between two sliding defenders.

Before the Falcons added their third, the Eagles (3-4-3) had a flurry of chances in front of the Messiah goal. Arthur Kauffman put a shot off the post in that sequence.

Despite holding only an 8-7  edge in shots, the Falcons took their 3-0 lead to the intermission.

The Eagles played the Falcons level in the second half, but the deficit was too big to overcome. In the 86th minute, Evan Cope found some space behind the Falcon back row before being tugged down just outside the box. Joåo Tarabel ripped the free kick off the crossbar.  Messiah goalkeeper Adam Carter made a great diving save on a well-taken follow-up chance by Ethan Pfau that was on its way into the lower corner.

Carter made the only two saves of the second half as both teams finished the match with three shots on goal. Messiah held a 3-2 edge in corner kicks. Messiah last lost a regular season game in the league in 2015.

The Eagles will play a non-league home game against Swrthmore College on Wednesday before returning to conference play next Saturday for a homecoming game against York.