(box score)
In the league's most anticipated match-up of the regular season, the game lived up to its billing with Widener coming up with big plays and gaining first place by itself in the Middle Atlantic Conference with a 10-6 victory over Messiah at Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium.
The third quarter proved vital for Widener, which began things 64 seconds in when senior defender Matt Parrott (Downingtown, PA) raced down the field and scored his first career goal to give Widener a 5-4 lead.
Senior JJ Hoeffler (Cranford, NJ) found the back of the net 2 1/2 minutes into the period for Widener before James Baden scored for Messiah just under 1 1/2 minutes later for a 6-5 contest.
The Pride gained some momentum as its defense killed off a 6-on-4 disadvantage that lasted 29 seconds. The end result saw Widener eventually grab a 7-5 lead with 3:47 remaining in the third when sophomore Johnny Casey (Glenside, PA) scored his third goal of the game.
With Widener holding a 7-6 lead entering the fourth, it looked to maintain its edge and did just that 1:54 in when junior Michael Bassani (Califon, NJ) scored for a two-goal margin.
The defense took over from there, limiting Messiah's opportunities and never letting the visitors get back into the game. Junior Mark Kane (Morton, PA) and Hoeffler scored empty-net tallies with Falcons goalkeeper Zac Cureton chasing the Pride in the final minute.
Freshmen Robert Clemens (Aston, PA) and Timothy Winslow (Newbury, MA) also scored for the Pride (10-2, 8-0 MAC), who have won eight straight for their longest run since a 10-game burst in 2006. Freshman Mac Nestler (Chatham, NJ) made eight saves over 30 minutes to help Widener post a 50-27 shots advantage and reach double figures in victories a school-record 10th straight season.
Baden scored twice, Kevan Schellenburg dished two assists and JJ Miller won 16-of-19 face-offs for Messiah (9-3, 7-1), which had its nine-game winning streak snapped.
The win guarantees a home conference tournament game for the Pride either in the first round or the semifinals. Widener can clinch a first-round bye with a victory Thursday at King's in a contest that starts at 4:00 pm in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
