Montclair, NJ – Senior midfielder Nick West scored a pair of goals as top-ranked Messiah College won its third straight game with a 5-1 victory over Montclair State at MSU Soccer Park on Saturday evening.

Samuel Ruiz Plaza and Justin Brautigam each added a goal as the defending national champion Falcons posted their third straight victory improving to 3-0-1. Messiah also kept its record against Montclair perfect with its eighth victory (8-0) in the all-time series.

Junior JOSE HUERTA scored the lone goal for the Red Hawks, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Montclair is now 3-1-1 on the year.

Ruiz Plaza snapped a scoreless tie in the 29^th minute as Messiah grabbed a 1-0 halftime lead. The Falcons added to their advantage at the 55:36 mark when West scored the first of his two goals with Brautigam making it 3-0 10 minutes later on a header.

The Red Hawks would break through in the 78^th minute. JAKE SEAMAN connected with Huerta for the latter's fifth of the season making the score 3-1.  But West dashed any further comeback with his second goal in the 85^th minute. Joseph Cianciotta capped the scoring with 14 seconds remaining.

Connor Bell made stopped seven shots for the Falcons, who outshot MSU 19-16 in the contest. MIKE SAALFRANK had eight saves for the Red Hawks.

The Red Hawks return to action on Monday, September 10 with a home match against City College of New York at 6:00 pm.