XML Box Score Grantham, PA - The Messiah men's lacrosse team improved to 4-4 in the Commonwealth and 7-8 overall today with a 20-2 victory over Alvernia University on Anderson Field.
Nate Nester,
Will Franken, and
Tyler Goglio each put away four goals to lead the team. Franken also contributed four assists on the day to tie his game-high points total with eight.
Overall, Messiah led on shots 54-14 and won 21 of 26 faceoffs. Three different goalies played at least 10 minutes for the Falcons, combining for seven saves. With the win and a loss by Elizabethtown, the Falcons will play at Lycoming in the first round of Commonwealth playoffs on Monday.
The Falcons set the tone early on by scoring three unansered goals to begin the game. Alvernia responded and brought the game to within two at 4-2 with 3:53 left in the first quarter. It was all Messiah from there, as that was the last goal the Crusaders scored.
Brady Marburger kept the ball with the Falcons throughout the game by winning 14 of 14 faceoffs. Four other Falcons combined for 7-12 from the faceoff dot.
Messiah went the remainder of the game on a 16-0 run that included season-first goals by five different Falcons. On senior day, these five goals were highlighted by
Paul Parsons' first of the year that went top shelf over the goalie's shoulder.
Nate Stoltzfus was another Falcon who scored his first of year, in a game that counted as his first appearance for the 2014 season. The goal came off of a turnover in the Falcons' defensive zone where the ball was cleared out with about 10 seconds left in the first half.
Included in that senior group was
Nate Nester who set his personal game-high goals total. Nester now has 11 goals to go along with his 17 assists this season. Three of Nester's goals were assisted by
Will Franken, who set his game-high this season in assists.
The Falcons were able to hold Alvernia to just 50% on clear attempts, which aided in the low number of shots by the Crusaders. The Crusaders gave the ball up 32 times, 15 of which were caused by the Falcons.
Messiah picked up 47 ground balls in the game, compared to Alvernia's 23. The Falcons were led by
Dean Patton with seven, follwed by
Chris Ruger with five. Ruger also led the team in caused turnovers with five.
The 2014 regular season ended on a high-note for the Falcons and will look to make a run in this year's Commonwealth playoffs. They will play as the No. 5 seed and travel to No. 4 Lycoming on Tuedsay, Apr. 29. Game time is yet to be determined.
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