Colorado Springs, CO – The No. 14 Messiah women's lacrosse team took the field in a rare lacrosse double header on Wednesday. The Falcons took down the United States Coast Guard Academy Bears 16-0 in the morning before defeating the Colorado College Tigers 16-8 in the evening.
 
In the first game the Falcons controlled the tempo of the entire game en route to the 16-0 victory over the Bears. The Falcons jumped all over the Bears in the first-half, scoring 11 goals on 22 shots.
 
Messiah nearly had possession for the entire first half and did not allow a single Coast Guard shot. Shayna Delaney had an impressive opening half and led Messiah with four goals. Delaney added another goal in the second half for a team leading five goals for the game.
 
The Falcons had used a complete team effort in the first-half with eight different players scoring goals and four different players dishing out assists. Shayna Delaney, Kendra Herbenar, Stephanie Athens, Annika Johnsen, Amanda Wivell, Courtney Wagner, Jenna Stover, and Allie Colson all found the back of the net during the first-half.
 
During the second-half, the Falcons slowed down their tempo and scored five more goals for the shutout victory. Scoring for Messiah in the second half was Allie Colson, Stephanie Athens, Shayna Delaney, Amanda Wivell, and Michelle Krenzki who tallied her first goal of the season.
 
In addition, Messiah dominated Coast Guard in a number of statistical categories such as shots (29-1), ground ball (25-12), draw controls (14-4), turnovers (13-20), and caused turnovers (12-6).
 
In the nightcap, the Falcons continued their solid play but the Colorado College Tigers proved to be a much more formidable foe. The opening six minutes were a back and forth battle between the Falcons and Tigers that produced no scoring.
 
Messiah opened the scoring with a goal by Shayna Delaney 6:43 into the contest that was assisted by Jenna Stover. Delaney's goal was the first of five-straight Messiah goals in a 7:28 stretch. In that stretch, Delaney and Courtney Wagner tallied twice and Jenna Stover added a goal.
 
After a goal for the Tigers, the Falcons added two more tallies to make it 7-1 with less than eight minutes remaining in the first-half. After Annika Johnsen scored to make it 7-1, the Tigers grabbed the ensuing draw control and quickly tallied. They scored again just 40 seconds later to shave the Messiah lead to 7-3.
 
Fortunately for the Falcons Alexa Dipeso came up with a big save on what looked to be another Tiger goal less than a minute later. After Dipeso's save the Falcons quickly pushed forward and Liz Brennan converted a goal in transition. Brennan came across the goalmouth from the right side and faked a shot before beating the goalie on her stick side. Brennan's second goal of the season gave Messiah an 8-3 lead.
 
The Tigers scored again, before Wagner connected on a free position shot to wrap up the scoring in the first-half. Messiah took a 9-4 lead into the break. At the half, Messiah held a five-goal lead but trailed 13-11 in shots.
 
Early in the second-half the Tigers began to take advantage of their opportunities. Colorado College scored three goals in the first five minutes of the half to close the gap to 9-7. The most impressive goal in that stretch was a free position goal by Mary Taussig from the left side that snuck just under the crossbar to make it a two-goal game.
 
After the opening flurry from the Tigers, the Falcons called timeout to settle down. The timeout was much needed, after the breather Messiah went on to control the pace of play for the majority of the second-half.
 
Stephanie Athens had a highlight reel goal less than a minute after the timeout. Athens drove from the top of the circle and spun to create space to her left. She then ripped a shot amongst three defenders and beat the goalie for her tenth goal of the season.
 
Athens' goal started a 4-1 run for the Falcons that saw Messiah build their lead to 13-8. During this stretch, Delaney scored twice and Audrey Liberati scored on a free-position shot with 14:45 remaining in regulation.
 
Exactly six minutes after Liberati's goal, Jenna Stover bounced a goal past the goalie for her second goal of the game. Stover's goal was set up by an excellent save by Dipeso between the pipes. After the save the Falcons pushed the ball forward and found Stover in transition.
 
Kendra Herbenar and Jenna Stover added goals in the final six minutes and Messiah came away with the 16-8 victory.
 
In the contest, Messiah was outshot 30-24 and as a result Alexa Dipeso collected a career-high 15 saves.
 
Offensively Courtney Wagner (3 goals, 2 assists), Jenna Stover (3 goals, 3 assists) and Shayna Delaney (5 goals) collected at least five points in the contest.
 
Messiah will next take the field at home on Mar. 16th when Susquehanna University travels to Grantham; game time is set for 4:00 p.m.