ANNVILLE, Pa. – Lebanon Valley scored first and scored last but #1 Messiah netted three goals in between and did just enough to escape Herbert Field with a 3-2 victory over LVC on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 11.  Freshman Tyler Skye put the Flying Dutchmen up early and senior Kyle Fronk kept them in it late but the Falcons held off a charge to remain unbeaten on the year.

It didn't take long for the home team to send a message to the nation's top-ranked team when Skye gathered a ball in the right half of Messiah's box, made a move around a defender, and pounded his attempt off the outstretched arms of diving goalkeeper Brandon West and into the left side of the of the Falcon net.  The goal was Skye's team-leading fourth of the year and it sent the homecoming crowd into a frenzy in the third minute.

Messiah responded ten minutes later when Danny Brandt converted the equalizer in the LVC box off an arcing pass from Jack Thompson. 

The score remained tied as the first half wore down but the Falcons started to turn up the aggressiveness on offense and it paid off when a Messiah three-on-two advantage ended with goal by Raul Serrano off a touch from Brian Ramirez in the 35th minute.

Lebanon Valley clamped down defensively after the break and held Messiah to just one shot in the second half's first 15 minutes.  The Falcons second shot of the period, however, found twine leading-scorer Jeremy Payne finished a Brian Ramirez cross in traffic to put the visitors up 3-1 in the 61st minute.

Despite the deficit, the Dutchmen weren't done.  Just moments after getting the okay from head coach Charlie Grimes to push up from his usual defensive back position, Fronk rejuvenated Lebanon Valley when he redirected junior Bradley Mehl's free kick offering off the right post and into the back of the Messiah net, cutting the deficit in half in the 73rd minute.

It set up a thrilling finish that saw freshman Matt Prince miss netting the equalizer by a matter of inches in the 77th minute.  Prince found space and fired a shot towards the Falcon net in front but West was able to lay out and redirect the attempt wide at the last possible moment.

Despite allowing three scores, Lebanon Valley freshman goalkeeper Cam Avery had a terrific day, making nine saves including one he punched to deflect over the crossbar in crunch time late in the second half.  His effort allowed his teammates to push the issue down the stretch.

The Dutchmen's performance against the two-time defending NCAA Division III national champions was one of the team's gutsiest of the season.  The hard fought loss dropped Lebanon Valley to 5-6-1 on the year and 1-1 in Commonwealth Conference play but the home team played like a team with a ton to play for.  LVC will look to build off their impressive performance when they travel to Lycoming for another league outing on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 14.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.