Messiah College Soccer Game

Last Friday, on September the 11^th, my best friend growing up was playing a soccer game at Messiah College. So naturally, I got my work in order and made plans to attend.  

At 4:00pm Friday I met my Grandparents at the Boalsburg Military Museum, to head to Messiah for the game that stared at 7:00pm.  As we headed out of State College on US-22 east we noticed a flood of cars heading toward State College.  It was an unusual amount, and then we remembered there was a PSU football game that Saturday.  It made for an easy trip being we were one of the only cars leaving State College on a Friday before a football game.  Messiah College is just South of Harrisburg (Pennsylvania’s Capital) and about two hours from State College (Messiah Colleges Address).   

When we arrived at Messiah, we noticed a steady stream of people heading toward the athletics complexes, which were located in a clearing outlined by the Yellow Breeches River.  To cross the river to enter the athletic complex was an ancient red covered bridge,  I had never seen one that cars actually drove over.

In general Isabelle fashion we arrived an hour early at Shoemaker field.  We were greeted by two banners that ran the length of the stadium.  My friend Julian had not told me anything about Messiah soccer, these banners told me all I needed to know.

It was a perfect night to play soccer. It was a clear day and when the sun went down a light sweater was needed to cope with the chilled air. 

As it approached 7:00pm the whole stadium became filled, along with tailgaters on the surrounding hills and fields, all for a soccer game.  It was an awesome atmosphere before the game had even begun.  It turned out that this was Messiahs first home game of the year and it seemed as though the whole college had showed up for the game. 

My friend is a freshman and starts as a Center back on his team Randolph College.  They are from around Lynchburg Virgina.  As soon as the game started I could tell, as foreshadowed by the championship banners, Messiah was the superior team.  They controlled the game, albeit they did not have that many attempts on goal, partly due to my friends play.  After forty-five minutes the first half was over with a score of 2-0, Messiah ahead.  The second half went the same as the first, two goals for Messiah.  It ended 4-0. The student section did not sit down for the whole ninety minutes. They were crazy.

After the game, my grandparents and I headed over to talk with Julian and give him some homemade chocolate chip cookies, courtesy of my Nana.  After a good talk we said our goodbyes and started the drive back to State College at around 10:00pm. 

This blog post might have strayed from my idea of things that can be done in close proximity to State College PA, but it still illustrates a great activity for any college student.  PSU soccer games are played at Jefferey Field and that would definitely be a blast to attend, if you are a fan of the game.