GRANTHAM, Pa. – The 14^th-ranked Lycoming College men's soccer team fell to first-ranked Messiah College, 2-0, in a battle for first place in the MAC Commonwealth on Wednesday night, Oct. 17 at Shoemaker Field.
 
The Warriors (12-2-1 overall, 4-1 conference) had two great scoring opportunities in the first half including a header by freshman Colin Wieand (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) off a corner kick from senior Jake Webb (Fairless Hills, Pa./Conwell-Egan Catholic) in the 20^th minute that beat everything but the post and a shot by sophomore Josh Cruz (Laurel, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) just outside the box that just missed sneaking into the top-shelf of the goal.
 
Messiah (13-0-2 overall, 6-0 conference) received a goal in each half from the nation's leading scorer Nick West, who was able to beat a defender from the top of the box to fire both shots past the keeper.
 
The Warrior defense applied constant pressure all game and held the Falcons, who average 25.86 shots per game, to just 15.
 
Senior Chris Solecki (Hainesport, N.J./Lenape) finished the game with four saves and Conner Bell had three for the Falcons.
 
The Warriors are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 20 for a 12 p.m. start when they host MAC Commonwealth opponent Arcadia on Senior Day at the Shangraw Athletic Complex. The Warriors will honor seniors Webb, Solecki, Sainclair Tueno (Silver Spring, Md./Montgomery Blair), Evan Zewe (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County), Nathaniel Wilston (Mansfield, Pa./Mansfield), and Myles Horst (Loxahatchee, Fla./Seminole Ridge) in a brief ceremony before the game.