GALLOWAY, NJ. – The Messiah College men's lacrosse team kept its final non-conference battle close in the first half, but trailed 8-7 to Stockton University at the break. The Ospreys were able to pull away in the second half and secure a 18-14 victory. The Falcons' offense was powered by Joseph Franken who registered a season-high six goals on just 11 shots in the game.

Cory Hurst tallied a season-high four goals on eight shots and on face-off, Lucas Honebrink earned 19 wins on 28 attempts. The Falcons were perfect on a man-up opportunity, going 3-for-3.

The Falcons fall to 8-6 on the season while the Ospreys earn their sixth straight victory and improve to 13-2.

The Falcons have two more games remaining in the regular season with Hood on April 18 and then the regular season finale against Stevenson on Wednesday, April 24. Both of these matchups are important games to determine conference seeding for the upcoming MAC Commonwealth Tournament.

Franken's Early Hat-Trick
Just a minute into the contest, Dylan Gillisse provided the Falcons their first lead of the day after he wrapped a shot around his defender and sunk it into the back of the cage. Stockton answered three minutes later, knotting the game up at 1-1. Franken put the Falcons back up one, spinning around his defender and firing a low shot under the goalie's legs, 90 seconds after the Ospreys tied the game.

Both teams were scoreless for the next five and a half minutes, but the Falcons kept control and recorded seven shots during that span. Messiah kept the shots on frame and later in the period converted on a man-up opportunity from the stick of Franken with just five minutes left in the period. Stockton then tallied two-straight goals to tie the game at 4-4 with less than a minute remaining in the opening period.

After Hunter Bellows fired a shot off the post with seven seconds on the clock, Liam Lilienthal gained the ball from out of bounds and found the streaking Franken on the left side where he scored right before the game clock hit zero in the first quarter. Franken's third goal gave Messiah a 4-3 lead.

Stockton's Push
Stockton began the second quarter on a 5-1 push. The streak gave them an 8-5 advantage with five minutes left in the period.

The Falcons trimmed the deficit back to a one-goal deficit in the final four minutes thanks to back-to-back goals. Franken started by powering through the defense on the right side and buried a shot into the back of the cage in the final three minutes of the half. Two minutes later, Bellows unleashed a quick shot from the top of the box and found the back of the twine with 26 seconds remaining in the period, bringing the deficit to just one goal at 8-7.

Ospreys' Second-Half Charge
The Ospreys struck first in the second half after the opening seven minutes was scoreless for both teams. Just a little over a minute later on a man-up opportunity, Hurst produced the Falcons first tally of the second half after receiving a pass in the middle of the defense and capturing his second goal of the game.

Following Hurst's brace, Stockton scored the next three goals which provided them a 12-8 cushion with a minute left in the third period. Hurst gave the Falcons a late spark in the third, scoring with just 25 seconds remaining in the period. A quick give and go three minutes into the final quarter cut the deficit to a two-goal deficit at 12-10 with Franken scoring for Messiah. The short spark for the Falcons was not enough as Stockton went on a 5-1 run, pulling the Ospreys away and earning a 17-11 advantage.

In the final five minutes of the contest; Franken, Hurst and Lilienthal added late goals but time was a factor and Messiah was unable to complete the late comeback. Stockton claimed the 18-14, securing their sixth-straight victory.

What's Up Next
As mentioned, the Falcons have a short turnaround as they travel to Hood on Thursday, April 18 in their second to last regular season match of the year. The game is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.