Stevens knocked off the defending national champion for the second straight year.  Last season, the Ducks earned a 2-1 win at Richard Stockton, the 2001 NCAA Division III champion.

Stevens (4-1-2) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in handing Messiah (4-1-1) its first loss.  Marks fed a pass through the middle to junior forward Adam Kalbermatten (Allentown, Pa./Central Catholic) who scored on a shot that deflected off the right post in the 14th minute.

Eight minutes later, Marks took a pass 30 yards from the goal and dribbled into the top-left side of the penalty area.  He hit a left-footed shot past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Dustin Shambach and just inside the right post in the 22nd minute, giving the Ducks a 2-0 lead.

Messiah answered and appeared to grab the momentum just before halftime as sophomore Chris Classen headed in a cross from freshman Dan Wagner at 44:06.  It was the first goal surrendered by Stevens in the last eight home games dating to last season.

The Ducks withstood Messiah’s pressure early in the second half.  Stevens’ defenders blanketed the Messiah forwards, allowing the Falcons just two shots in the second half.

Stevens added an insurance goal in the 70th minute when junior forward Josh Ottinger (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) tapped in Marks’ cross from the endline right of the goal.

Senior goalkeeper Sean Stevenson (Scottsdale, Ariz./Brophy College Prep) made three saves while controlling play in the Stevens penalty area.  Shambach stopped three shots for Messiah.  The teams had eight shots each and Messiah held a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.

Stevens returns to action on Wednesday, September 24, when it travels to Old Westbury, N.Y., for a 4 p.m. Skyline Conference game against SUNY-Old Westbury.

STEVENS 3, No. 17 MESSIAH 1

Messiah   1   0  -  1

Stevens   2   1  -  3

SIT  Adam Kalbermatten (Brian Marks)       13:15

SIT  Brian Marks (unassisted)              21:25

MC   Chris Classen (Dan Wagner)            44:06

SIT  Josh Ottinger (Brian Marks)           69:45

Shots:  MC 8; SIT 8

Corner Kicks:  MC 5; SIT 4

Saves:  MC 3 (Dustin Shambach);

        SIT 3 (Sean Stevenson)