CARLISLE, Pa. - No. 23 Messiah women's lacrosse fell to the Dickinson Red Devils on Wednesday afternoon by a 12-9 final. Amanda Wadsworth led the Messiah offense with three tallies, but Dickinson used an eight-goal second half to comeback and defeat the Falcons.
 
Messiah built a 6-4 halftime lead thanks to a pair of goals from Wadsworth and single tallies from Katelyn Pearson, Annika Johnsen, Natalie Hoff, and Abby Howard, but the Red Devils took advantage of their opportunities early in the second half to take control. Dickinson scored on their first four shots of the period to take an 8-7 lead with 20 minutes remaining in the contest.
 
Four more goals gave the Red Devils a 12-7 lead and they held off a late Messiah push for the 12-9 victory.
 
Messiah moves to 0-3 on the young season and will be back in action on Saturday when they host No. 10 Franklin & Marshall in their home opener at 1:00 p.m.
 
Building a Lead
Dickinson started Wednesday's tilt with two of the first three goals to open up a 2-1 lead less than nine minutes into the contest. Messiah's Abby Howard notched the only goal for the Falcons during the span, off an assist from Natalie Hoff.
 
Just before the midpoint of the opening half, Messiah's offense started to get going. Hoff scored a goal of her own with 17:10 remaining in the half off a dish from Joanna King to tie the game at 2-2. Less than a minute later, Amanda Wadsworth scored an unassisted goal to give Messiah their first lead of the day at 3-2 with 16:21 remaining in the half.
 
The Red Devils' Anne Dunster halted the Messiah run momentarily with a game-tying goal with 14:01 remaining in the period, but the Falcons answered back with three-straight goals from Annika Johnsen, Katelyn Pearson, and Wadsworth. All three scores were unassisted and put Messiah up 6-3 with just over a minute remaining before the half.
 
Momentum Shift
In the final seconds of the first half, Dickinson's Chase Landis put through her first goal of the afternoon to end a 5-1 Messiah run and close the margin to 6-4 heading to the half.
 
After the break, the Red Devils scored two quick goals to tie the game at 6-6 before Jamie Bishop gave Messiah the lead back at 7-6 off King's second assist on the afternoon. Over the next 17 minutes, Dickinson rattled off six-straight goals to take a commanding 12-7 lead with under nine minutes remaining in regulation. Six different players tallied for the Red Devils on the run.
 
Late Scores
Messiah registered a pair of goals in the final seven minutes of play with a free-position goal by Mckenna Edwards and a strong individual effort by Wadsworth. Wadsworth's third tally of the game came with four minutes remaining and pulled Messiah within three, but that as close as the Falcons would get as the Red Devils held on the 12-9 victory.
 
In the Box Score
After being held scoreless in her first two collegiate games, Amanda Wadsworth netted a hat trick on seven shots to lead Messiah's offense on Wednesday. Despite not scoring a goal, Joanna King dished out a pair of assists to finish second on the team in points on the day.
 
Between the pipes, Amber Orner registered seven saves.
 
What's Up Next
After a three-game road-trip to begin the season, Messiah will return to their home turf on Saturday for their home opener against the No. 10 Franklin & Marshall Diplomats at 1:00 p.m.