WASHINGTON, D.C. – The TCNJ men's soccer team hung with perennial powerhouse Messiah for nearly an hour of Friday's season opener before the 12^th-ranked Falcons scored four times in a 15-minute span in the middle of the second half to secure a 4-0 victory in the opening contest of Catholic University's Turk Emekli Classic.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Messiah spent the majority of the first half camped in TCNJ's end, racking up nine corner kicks and four shots in the opening 45 minutes. Thanks to defensive discipline and a highlight-reel save from Julian Franco, the Lions managed to withstand every attacking wave
• Franco somehow managed to keep the ball out of the net in the 28^th minute, when a Messiah player sent in a cross from near the end line. It found the foot of a Falcon teammate, who one-timed it from the doorstep straight toward the net, but TCNJ's senior keeper got a paw on it and secured a breathtaking save
• The Falcons broke the deadlock in the 59^th minute as Ben Lefever's cross found Patrick Lee for a free header right in front of Franco
• Messiah doubled its advantage in the 69^th minute, when Franco came off his line to parry an initial shot before Sam Phillips deposited his own rebound from the right side of the box
• Less than 90 seconds later, a Messiah corner kick towards the near post deflected off a Lion defender and into the back of the net to make it 3-0
• TCNJ threatened in the 71^st minute, when Ryan Phillips won the ball back and sent in a perfect cross for Will Roche, who chested it down and nearly set up a scoring opportunity for an on-rushing David Anderson
• Messiah expanded its lead to 4-0 in the 73^rd minute on Bruno Franco's left-footed shot from just outside the box

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Messiah finished with a 13-3 advantage in shots and a 12-1 edge in corners

NOTES

• Today's game marked the first meeting between the programs since No. 1 Messiah edged TCNJ, 2-1, in the 2014 season opener. The teams have met twice in the NCAA Tournament, with Messiah winning quarterfinal matchups in 1995 and 2005.
• The Falcons have not lost a regular-season game since a 1-0 setback to Penn State Harrisburg on October 30, 2021. Since the 2016 season, Messiah's overall record is a remarkable 120-9-12.
• Franco made four saves, including the 150^th of his career. He is the 10^th player in program history to reach that milestone.
• Newcomers John Ramos, Sam Snyder, and Chris Meder all started for TCNJ, while rookies Roche, Matias Hornos, Lucas Sample, Pablo Argueta, Joseph Lucignano, and Sean Wood all made their Lions debuts
• Anderson, Meder, and Roche each notched a shot for TCNJ
• Fifth-year back Dante Bettino started in his first appearance for TCNJ since 2019, when he received All-NJAC honorable mention before taking a three-year hiatus. Along with Franco, he was one of two Lions to play all 90 minutes.

UP NEXT
The Lions take on Shenandoah at noon on Saturday to wrap up their appearance at the Turk Emekli Classic.