Box Score GRANTHAM, PA – The York College men's soccer squad put up a great fight but ended up dropping their fourth straight as Messiah edged the Spartans 3-2 in a physical non-conference contest in Grantham, PA.
Game #8
Records: York (3-4-1), Messiah (5-0-2)
Shots: York 8, Messiah 15
Shots on Goal: York 3, Messiah 8
Corner Kicks: York 3, Messiah 6
Saves: York 5, Messiah 1
How It Happened
• The Falcons drew first blood with a Nick West goal in the 23rd minute of the game. Colby Thomas chipped a pass out to West who headed the ball home for his first goal of the year.
• Messiah took a 1-0 lead to the half. The Falcons outshot York 9-2 in the opening half while they also held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks. Spartan goalie Charlie Johnson (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) made five saves in the first 45 minutes of the game.
• Sophomore Nathan Bilbie (Shrewsbury, Pa./Susquehannock) scored in his second consecutive game as he bombed a free kick from the top of the box into the upper right 90 for the equalizer in the 52nd minute.
• The Falcons recaptured the lead just over 12 minutes later as Thomas collected a loose ball just outside the box. He dribbled in on goal and stuck a shot inside the near post for the goal.
• Messiah pushed the lead to 3-1 in the 83rd minute as West recorded his second goal of the game on a nice cross by Colby Thomas.
• York answered 36 seconds later as Matt Freibaum (New Market, Md./Linganore) took a pass from Keith Witherell (Arlington, Va./Yorktown) and one timed a pass to Bilbie who finished the chance in the box for the Spartan goal. The goal was Bilbie's second of the night and fourth of the year. Three of his goals have come in the last two games.
• York got off a Bilbie shot just two minutes later but Falcon goalie Connor Bell made the save to preserve the one-goal lead.
• The Spartans had one last chance on a corner kick in the 88the minute. Barak Amige (Gaithersburg, Md./Quince Orchard) had his header off the corner blocked before it could get to the goal as York couldn't get a third goal to force overtime.
Individual Leaders
York
Nathan Bilbie: 1 goal, 3 shots, 2 shots on goal
Matt Freibaum: 1 goal, 2 shots, 1 shot on goal
Joel Teston: 1 shot
Messiah
Colby Thomas: 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 shots, 1 shot on goal
Nick West: 2 goals, 4 shots, 4 shots on goal
Kirby Robbins: 1 assist, 1 shot
Jacob Bender: 3 shots, 1 shot on goal
Goalie Comparison
Charlie Johnson (YCP): 90:00 minutes, 3 goals against, 5 saves (Loss, 3-4-1)
Connor Bell (Messiah): 90:00 minutes, 2 goals against, 1 save (Win, 5-0-2)
Match Notes:
The three goals allowed were a season high for the Spartan defense … York has been outscored 9-3 during their four game losing skid … Messiah now holds a 14-5-3 all time lead in the overall series as the Falcons have won three straight ... York's eight shots were their second lowest total of the year ... goalie Charlie Johnson made five saves for the third straight match ... Bilbie's two goals marks the second time this year that a Spartan has a pair of goals in a game as Matt Freibaum turned the trick in the win over Stevenson.
Up Next:
The Spartans close out their current three game road trip with their first conference contest of the year as York heads to Newport News, Virginia to face nationally ranked Christopher Newport. The Spartans and Captains have tied in each of their last three meetings and have five ties in the 15 all-time meetings between the two programs. Kick off from Newport News is set for 7:00 pm on Saturday night.
Matt Freibaum photo courtesy of David Sinclair Photography
