GRANTHAM, Pa. – Matt Bills’ hat trick led second-seeded Messiah College to a 9-1 victory over third-seeded Lebanon Valley in the Commonwealth Conference semifinals Wednesday evening at Shoemaker Field.
Bills scored two of his three goals in first 18 minutes for the 17th-ranked Falcons (16-2-1), who defeated LVC 3-0 in the conference semifinals last season. Messiah built a 3-1 halftime lead, then piled on six unanswered goals in the second half. The Falcons out-shot the Valley 19-3.
LVC fell to 11-5-2 and will hope for a bid in the ECAC Championships. Pairings will be announced on Monday.
Messiah opened the scoring in the 16th minute, when Bills drilled in his 20th goal of the season. Two minutes later, Bills put the Falcons up 2-0 on a penalty kick after LVC was whistled for a hand ball in the box.
LVC was quick to strike back, as first-year student Matt Sourbeer (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) lined up from over 30 yards out and sent a rocket into the upper right corner of the net 26 seconds later for his fifth goal of the season.
The Falcons made it 3-1 when Matt Snavely scored his first goal of the season off an assist from Sam Casey. LVC was forced to play a man down after Justin Ranck (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown) received a red card late in the first half for making contact with Messiah’s goalkeeper.
Five different players, including Bills, scored for Messiah in the second half.
The Falcons will host Moravian College, a 2-0 winner over Elizabethtown in the other conference semifinal, in the Commonwealth championship match on Saturday.
Lebanon Valley 1 0 - 1
Messiah 3 6 - 9
M – Matt Bills (unassisted), 15:50
M – Matt Bills (penalty kick), 17:47
LV – Matt Sourbeer (unassisted), 18:13
M – Matt Snavely (Sam Casey), 24:03
M – Matt Bills (Bill Crompton), 56:45
M – Matt Snavely (unassisted), 58:42
M – Troy Sauer (Matt Bills), 61:38
M – Brandon Fisher (Rory Charcolla), 64:09
M – Chris Claasen (Seth Lehman), 71:06
M – Chris Claasen (Greg Giordano), 77:29
Shots: Lebanon Valley 3. Messiah 19.
Penalty Corners: Lebanon Valley 4. Messiah 6.
Saves: Lebanon Valley (Christian Koch) 6. Messiah (Dave Casper) 1.
Fouls: Lebanon Valley 19. Messiah 21.
-lvc-
