XML Box Score by Phil Naegely, GoMessiah.com reporter

Grantham, PA – No. 10 Ursinus College rallied from a 2-0 first-half deficit to steal a 4-3 win on the road over No. 11 Messiah College on Wednesday night. Megan Kennan scored three-straight goals to lead the Bears out from the early hole, and Devin Brakel scored the final go-ahead goal in the 63rd minute to seal the win.
 
Despite the evenly-matched tempo, Messiah's early pressure seemed to catch Ursinus' defense off guard. Just three minutes in the Falcons scored off their first shot on goal. Nicole Wilkerson found the loos ball in the circle and sent it past Ursinus goalkeeper Danielle DeSpirito.
 
Ursinus found a chance to equalize quickly moments later. Off a penalty corner at the 4:01 mark, Jordan Miller's shot went wide. About three minutes later, Danielle Strong's shot was blocked and Carly Day made a key save at the 8:32 mark.
 
The Bears continued their offensive attack as Messiah was force to fend off three Ursinus corners within three minutes to preserve the 1-0 lead. The successful corner defense fueled the Falcons as they created their own attack towards a second goal.
 
At the 14:20 mark, Moriah Pfautz found her own rebound and put the ball into the cage to give Messiah a 2-0 lead.
 
The Falcons' 2-0 lead held until the final seconds of the half when Ursinus stole momentum. As the scoreboard horn sounded signifying the end of the first half, Ursinus readied to take their seventh corner of the first 35 minutes. Nora Kornfield fed the ball from the corner to Keenan who blasted the ball from the top of circle into the cage. The score put Ursinus on the board and shifted the game's momentum as the teams ended into the half.
 
Out of the break, Ursinus' pressure from the first-half continued. In the 38th minute off a corner Keenan again received the ball and equalized the score at 2-2.
 
The pace and intensity of the match picked up as both sides looked to take the lead. At the 44:44 mark Messiah earned a penalty corner but could not create a shot on goal. After this missed opportunity by Messiah the Bears took advantage.
 
Keenan dribbled into the circle and sent a booming ball into the top corner of the cage. Her third goal of the night, and fourth of the season, gave Ursinus the lead.
 
But it would not last long.
 
Four minutes later Messiah would find a game-tying goal of their own, this one off the stick of Carissa Gehman.

With the game tied at 3-3 and less than nine minutes to play, Pfautz broke away and sprinted towards the cage in a one-on-one chance against keeper Danille DiSpirito. Her momentum propelled her to the right and, in a full dive, attempted a shot that went inches wide of the right post.
 
Ursinus regrouped from Messiah near miss and quickly advanced down the field. Devin Brakel found space within the circle and pushed her shot through the traffic and into the cage. Her goal at the 62:28 mark held up to be the eventual game-winner.
 
With the loss Messiah fell to 3-1, while Ursinus improved to 3-0. The Falcons will look to recover quickly as they face another tough test against No. 2 Salisbury on Saturday, Sept. 13. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. on Anderson Field.

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