Box Score

The Albright College men's soccer team scored early but went on to lose 8-1 in a home match-up with #2 Messiah, the three-time defending national champs, Wednesday at Shirk Stadium.

Just 53 seconds in, Derek Black's low cross from the right side took a deflection past the Albright backline right into the path of Jack Thompson for an easy finish.

The Lions got right back into the game with a bit of fortune, as an 11th minute cross was headed by a Messiah centerback past his goalkeeper for an own goal.

Senior David Folino then flicked Tyler Waters' long throw on net, but into the hands of Messiah's Jake Berry, giving Albright an early 2-1 advantage in shots on goal.

On a quick counterattack, Black got free on the right side and crossed to Brian Ramirez, who scrambled a shot just wide of the left post.

Midway through the half, Messiah's Tom Renko ripped a shot off the crossbar from 20 yards out. A minute later, Albright senior Mark Yost hustled back to clear a dangerous cross.

Danny Thompson then hit a shot that forced a nice low save from Albright goalkeeper #Tim Compton#, but Danny's brother Jack was waiting to finish off the rebound for his second tally of the game. Compton made another nice save on Jeremy Payne's low shot to the back post, with the big freshman managing to get a hand on it and tip it off the left post.

Messiah finally grabbed some breathing room three-and-a-half minutes before the half, as Trevor Lee ripped a shot home off a corner kick. For the third time Compton got down low to make a nice stop, this time on Payne, to keep Albright within two goals at halftime.

Compton made another nice save on a Black breakaway at the beginning of the second half, but was unlucky again as Danny Thompson was waiting to tap the rebound home, making it 4-1 Falcons.

The Falcons showed their ability with two outstanding goals late in the game. Kent Ramirez crossed up a defender twice and slipped a shot inside the goalkeeper, and Joshua Wood ripped a 25-yard blast off the underside of the crossbar and in.

Albright falls to 6-9, 0-5 and will travel to Lycoming on Saturday.