Montclair, NJ – Top-ranked Messiah College got a pair of goals from Jeremy Payne and Jack Thompson 1:19 apart early in the second half as the defending national champion Falcons remained undefeated with a 3-1 win over Montclair State at MSU Soccer Park on Saturday.

Benji Kennel had a goal as Messiah upped its record to 8-0 overall this season while staying unbeaten against the Red Hawks. The Falcons are now 6-0 all-time against MSU, including three victories in the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship.

Sophomore John Starner (Manahawkin, NJ, Southern Regional) had the lone goal for Montclair State, which fell to 4-3 losing for the third time in its last four outings.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first 45 minutes of the contest however that wasn't indicative of how the first half went as each team had opportunities. 
Goalkeeper Brandon West made a diving save to his left to stop a Maxx Wurzburger (Glen Rock, NJ, Glen Rock) shot in the fifth minute  and Messiah's Mike Kovach came so close to knocking in cross from the left side at the 9:55 mark.

Messiah appeared as if it would get the first goal of the game at the 22-minute mark when Thompson got a shot off from the left side that appeared to be going in however MSU's Tyler Daly (Neptune, NJ, Neptune) headed the ball away at the last second keeping the game 0-0. A minute later it would be Thompson again with a shot from the left doorstep that was knocked away by a sliding Michael Gonzalez (Kenilworth, NJ, Union Catholic) at 22:58.

Thompson was again denied by Gonzalez late in the first half and the striker than made perhaps an even more important defensive play while getting some revenge against Daly. Sophomore Mike Olla (Bloomfield, NJ, St. Benedict's Prep) served a corner kick into the box that eventually found Daly who headed the ball toward the net only to be batted away by Thompson as the half ended that same way it began, scoreless.

Messiah outshot MSU 12-4 in the first half it the Falcons would finally crack through in the second scoring on its first two attempts. Thompson dribbled in along the left side before firing a shot that Gonzalez deflected for the save. The ball then rolled along and bounced off the right post to Payne, who put back the rebound for his eighth goal of the season and a 1-0 Messiah lead 91 seconds into the second half.

The lead grew to 2-0 a little over a minute later as Thompson again moved in along the left side, beating a defender and then blasting a shot inside the right post for his third tally of the year. Kennel also got his third of the year, making it a 3-0 game at 62:16 finishing off a close feed from Carter Robbins after a scramble inside the six.

Montclair State finally broke through with 22:20 remaining when freshman Kyle Goodwin (South Brunswick, NJ, South Brunswick) served a ball from the left side across the box to the far post where Starner made a diving header for his first goal of the season.

West finished with three saves for Messiah while Gonzalez stopped four shots.

Montclair State returns to action on Wednesday, September 24 when it hosts New Jersey City University in its NJAC opener. Kickoff at MSU Soccer Park is slated for 7:00 pm.