Box Score

GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Neumann University men's soccer team stunned the defending NCAA Champions No. 1 Messiah College 1-0 in overtime on Sunday evening in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Andrew Leissing headed in a free kick from Bob Mastrillo in the 97th minute to complete the upset. The free kick came off an offside's from Messiah.

“I just wanted to get a touch, get a flick on it,” said Leissing of the game's final shot. “(Berry) came out and I was able to put it over him.”

The Falcons had a chance as the overtime session began, but the Knights blocked the shot and it went off the post. Neumann got a shot off by Andy Attah in the transition after the post.

Messiah (18-1-1) out-shot Neumann (14-4-1) 26-11 for the game, but Mastrillo made five saves in goal for the shutout win. Leissing and Brandon Green led the Knights with four shots each.

“It's an unbelievable feeling to win this game,” said Mastrillo, who made five saves on the evening for the Knights. “It's everything you dream of—away, on their field, in overtime. They're an amazing team.”

Besides being the first loss this season, it is the first time Messiah has fallen on its home field since 2001. The Falcons won eight out of the last 11 National Titles, including the last three.

“We knew they had not one good offensive line, but two,” said head coach Kevin Sloan, in his sixth season with the Knights. “We wanted to be prepared for their pressure on both sides of the field. For us, we had to keep things solid defensively, and I think we did an extremely good job.”

“We bought into the idea of keeping our energy up, even when they were pinching us into our half throughout regulation,” added Sloan. “We knew we would have only a few chances, so we had to give it everything we had.”

The Knights now move on to face Montclair State (16-3-3) in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on either Friday or Saturday.

Interactive Bracket