GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Salisbury University men's soccer team shocked the Messiah University Falcons on Saturday evening, earning a 3-1 upset over the third-ranked team in the land on Shoemaker Field in Grantham, Pa.

Salisbury (3-2-1) hardly gave their foe a chance to blink before taking the lead, needing just 56 seconds for Peter Beil to punch in his first goal as a Sea Gull to build a 1-0 lead. Messiah (3-2-0) would take the next six shots and earn a pair of corner kicks across the ensuing 30 minutes, but a trifecta of saves by Clif Nehman helped protect the lead.

The Sea Gulls broke through the Falcon backline again in the 34th minute, with quick deliveries from Dale Gordon to Ethan Dolezal eventually finding Sean Barwick in the box for SU's second shot – and second score – of the match.

The defenses battled early in the second half, with each team managing a pair of shots through 30 minutes in the period. After finding the woodwork on the team's prior attempt, Messiah's Grant Shreiner scored to cut the lead to one in the 76th minute, 2-1.

Messiah forced some late pressure, tallying three shots and forcing a Salisbury team save, but Brady Young drove the final nail in the 85th minute with a solo finish to seal the 3-1 final.

GAME NOTES

• Peter Beil notched his first goal in his first start as a Sea Gull.
• Brady Young collected his 10th career goal in the victory, bringing his SU point total to 26.
• Ethan Dolezal added his first points of 2024 with an assist on Barwick's goal, now boasting 28 career points.
• Dale Gordon logged his first career assist in the win.
• Sean Barwick's game-winning score was his first goal of 2024 and his 11th as a Sea Gull.
• Clif Nehman made four saves across 90 minutes in his first career win.
• With Salisbury's victory, Messiah has now lost consecutive home matches for the first time since 1996.

Salisbury returns home on Saturday, Sept. 21 to host Keystone College for the team's Youth Day. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Gerry DiBartolo Sea Gull Soccer Complex.