GETTYSBURG, Pa. - The No. 16 Messiah women's lacrosse team fell 17-7 against the two-time defending National Champion, and current No. 1, Gettysburg Bullets on Thursday afternoon. The Falcons scored the first goal of the contest with a tally by Annika Johnsen just over two minutes into the game, but Gettysburg responded with five-straight tallies to take a 5-1 lead nine minutes into the match. The Bullets went on to take a 12-5 lead at the break.
 
Messiah's defense slowed down the Gettysburg offense in the second half, conceding just five goals, but the Bullets prevailed for the 17-7 victory. Messiah falls to 0-2 on the young season and will next take the field on Wednesday, Feb. 27 when they travel to Dickinson at 4:00 p.m.
 
Annika Johnsen and Abby Howard each scored twice for the Falcons to lead the Messiah offense while Courtney Patterson and Kerry McKeever notched four tallies apiece to pace the Bullets' attack.

Offensive First
A total of 17 goals were scored between the two sides in the first-half on Thursday afternoon with the Bullets holding a 12-5 lead after 30 minutes of play. Messiah tallied first with Johnsen finding the back of the cage, but the Bullets responded with five-straight goals to take control at 5-1 less than nine minutes into the contest.
 
Jessie Wynne scored her first career goal to end the Gettysburg run with 20:08 left in the half and after a tally from the Bullets' Lauren Cole, Abby Howard scored to keep the Falcons within three at 6-3.
 
The Bullets increased their lead to as many as eight with a 6-1 run following Howard's goal and with under five minutes remaining in the half, held a 12-4 lead.  Johnsen capped off the period for the Falcons with a tally to take the game to the half with the Bullets leading 12-5.
 
Defensive Second
After the fireworks of a 17-goal opening half that featured 35 total shots, Messiah and Gettysburg made some defensive adjustments at the break. In the second-half, a combined 21 shots were taken with just seven goals put on the board. The Bullets scored five of the seven goals in the second-half to earn the 17-7 victory.
 
Katelyn Pearson and Abby Howard accounted for Messiah's two goals in the half.
 
In the Box Score
Gettysburg held a firm, 17-9 advantage in draw controls in the contest, with a 13-5 mark in the first half. Steph Colson led the Bullets with 10 draw controls, while Annika Johnsen grabbed five for the Falcons.
 
On the clear, Messiah was 18-24 with nine clears in each half while the Bullets were nearly perfect in clearance attempts at 15-16.
 
Gettysburg's Liza Barr led all players with nine points, scoring two goals and assisting on seven others.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will remain on the road with a game against Dickinson College on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Messiah edged the Red Devils in a tight, 11-10 battle last season in Grantham.