Box Score
Grantham, PA — The Messiah College women's lacrosse team made its 2008 MAC Conference debut a successful one Thursday afternoon, using a late push to hand Widener University a 19-8 defeat at Anderson Field.
Messiah (4-3, 1-0) overcame a lackadaisical start to pour it on the visiting Pride late, scoring eight straight goals in the final 14 minutes of the first half to cruise to the win.
"We're obviously very excited to win our first league game of the season, but we know we have to be better ready to play from the start," said Heather Greer, Messiah head coach. "We started out a little flat today, not moving the ball real well and not making the catches we know we need to make. The latter part of the game was a different story. We picked each other up and we played like an entirely different team out there."
Greer's team got on the board first, as junior Jackie Dando and senior Jessica Van Hook each scored unassisted goals in the contest's first six minutes. The squad then traded goals with Widener over the next seven minutes of play, eventually being deadlocked at 4-4 after two consecutive scores from the Pride at the 17:41 and 16:20 marks.
It was then that Greer's team responded, however, putting up eight straight scores over the course of the game's next 10 and a half minutes. VanHook got things started with an unassisted goal at the 14:09 point, while classmate Bethany Moskevitz followed with a free position shot less than 30 seconds later.
Dando then tacked on two more goals, which was capped by three straight scores from freshman Kara Geiman.
When VanHook buried a free position shot with 3:35 to play in the half, Messiah had claimed a 12-4 lead and had firm control of the game.
"It was a little messy for us early," Greer said. "Fortunately, we had some players step up and create some chances for others."
Among those was freshman Megan Bovenzi, who caused three turnovers, claimed two draw controls and scooped three ground balls, all complementing a second-half goal. In only her third season of competitive lacrosse, Bovenzi has been a key part of the Falcons' midfield.
"Megan's hustle and work ethic are one of a kind," Greer said. "Even though she didn't put up a lot of points in this particular game, she gave our team the second effort we needed so desperately in the midfield. She really has become dominant for us in the midfield and literally brings her game to the next level on almost a daily basis. She has a natural, raw athleticism but now has developed into a talented lacrosse player. She's very fast out there and has given us a new dimension."
Widener was able to piece together three goals to pull within a 13-7 score with 27:17 to play in the game, but another 5-0 Messiah run capped things off. Geiman began the surge with an unassisted score, followed by solo goals from Dando, Bovenzi and two from junior Bethany Moskevitz.
Geiman and Dando paced Messiah with five goals apiece, while VanHook and Moskevitz each finished with three. Sophomore Betsy Caprio had a game-high seven ground balls, while junior Brianne Brennan scooped five. Junior Jen Venter finished with 10 saves in a complete game in goal.
Messiah will continue league play next, as the team travels to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Saturday. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
