Grantham, PA - Messiah and Stevenson were separated by just a single goal after three quarters, 9-8, but the Mustangs scored five unanswered to open the final period en route to a 14-10 win. The decision broke a tie between these two teams in the MAC Commonwealth standings, with Stevenson taking the No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament, and Messiah No. 2.
 
The Falcons (9-5, 7-1) will host No. 3-seeded Albright College on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Stevenson (11-5, 8-0) will await the winner of No. 4 Widener and No. 5 Lebanon Valley. The winners of Wednesday's games will play in the MAC Commonwealth Championship on Saturday, May 6.
 
Early Momentum
The Falcons were hoping for a fast start tonight, and they got exactly that when Mitch Stanley tallied the game's first goal after just 12 seconds of play. Matthew Franken collected the assist thanks to a quick pass upfield, and the Falcons were in front.
 
After JT Thelen's 42nd goal of the season tied the game less than two minutes later, Messiah controlled the tempo and added two more tallies over the next five minutes. Dylan Gillissee and Blake Knobloch did the honors.
 
Messiah's 3-1 lead lasted until the final minutes of the period, but the Mustangs' two scores evened it at 3-3 entering the second.
 
Feeling Good at the Break
The second quarter was full of mixed results for Messiah. Knobloch put them up 4-3 at the 14:25 mark, but Stevenson responsed with four-straight goals to take a 7-4 lead. The final three of those goals were unassisted as they took advantage of quick turns of possession for looks on the cage.
 
With momentum gone, the Falcons were looking for something to feel good about at the break, and they got it off the stick of Luke Hall. The junior took advantage of an extra-man opportunity and he split two defenders on the right side for a goal with just four seconds remaining. The tally, his ninth of the season, brought the Falcons within 7-5.
 
Back Even
The two teams played scoreless for more than six minutes to open the third, but Thelen tallied again to give the Mustangs an 8-5 advantage. That's when Messiah responded with impressive poise and dynamic play, with Knobloch scoring off a quick turn on the right side at 7:16, and Lorezno DiPasquale scoring just eight seconds later with a laser over the shoulder of goalie Ross Dinan.
 
Joseph Franken scored from straightaway in the midfield less than 80 seconds later, and the game was tied, 8-8.
 
Sam Stengel, who finished with a career-high 20 saves, was especially terrific in the third quarter with nine saves.
 
Thelen tallied in the final minutes for Stevenson, and it was 9-8 Mustangs entering the final quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter Falter
The anticipation of a close final period was high, but the Mustangs instead took control with five-straight tallies to open the frame. Thelen scored his fourth and fifth goals in the short streak and, coupled with his tally at the end of the third, Stevenson scored six unanswered goals to grab ahold of the game.
 
Justin Bradley and Matthew Franken each scored for Messiah in the final minute, but it was too little, too late in the decision.
 
In the Box
Knobloch scored three times to lead eight Messiah scorers, with seven others tallying exactly one goal. DiPasquale was a difference maker for Messiah with both a game-high 10 groundballs and also 11 faceoff wins in 22 attempts.
 
Stevenson outshot Messiah 47-37, but just 16 went on frame compared to 34 for the Mustangs. The Falcons also turned the ball over 22 times, including 13 across the final two periods.
 
As mentioned, Stengel collected 20 saves, and Messiah grabbed more faceoffs (13-12) and groundballs (39-38) than the Mustangs.
 
Up Next
Messiah will now play as the No. 2 seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament when they host No. 3 Albright on Wednesday. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m.