ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – Heading into the fourth quarter, the Messiah women's lacrosse team trailed the St. Mary's College of Maryland Seahawks 14-9, but netted six fourth-quarter goals to force overtime. The late push fell just short as the Seahawks connected with just over two minutes left in the extra period to claim the 16-15 victory.
 
Grace Gormley led the offense with six goals and Amanda Wadsworth finished the day with five points on two goals and a team-high three assists.
 
With the setback, Messiah moves to 3-3 on the season and they will be back in action on Wednesday when they host the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons in a rematch of the 2021 Sweet 16. The opening draw control is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on the Lacrosse Turf.
 
How It Happened
Messiah scored the first three goals of the contest with Grace Gormley, Rachel Delate, and Abigail Evans each connecting for a score in the first 6:02 of the contest to take a 3-0 lead. The Falcons held the Seahawks scoreless for the first 13:30 of the contest, but St. Mary's pushed through two scores before the end of the first period, including a goal with 14 seconds to make it a 3-2 game heading to the second.
 
The Seahawks continued their strong play through the second quarter, outscoring the Falcons 5-2 in the period. They scored the first two goals of the stanza to take a 4-3 lead. After goals from Ehryn Groothoff and Grace Gormley were sandwiched around a tally from the Seahawks' Colin Horton, Messiah and St. Mary's were tied 5-5.
 
Just as they did at the end of the first quarter, the Seahawks scored the final two goals of the period, this time building a 7-5 lead.
 
After Ehryn Groothoff scored her second goal of the game to begin the third quarter, the Seahawks went on a 7-2 run, turning a one-goal lead into a six-goal deficit for the Falcons. Grace Gormley netted her third goal of the afternoon, beating the third quarter buzzer to pull the Falcons within five at 14-9 heading to the fourth.
 
That Gormley goal started a 6-0 Messiah run that lasted 7:11, tying the game at 14-14. During the streak, Gormley led the effort with three goals while Amanda Wadsworth, Emma Lytle, and Makenzie Schnur. Schnur's goal came with 7:50 remaining in regulation and tied the game up.
 
The Seahawks took a 15-14 lead with 4:17 remaining, but it was Gormley again, scoring in the final minute to tie the game and force overtime.
 
Once in overtime, Messiah won the opening draw control, but were unable to register a shot. The Seahawks scored 3:48 into the period to earn the 15-14 victory. St. Mary's MC Mortimer scored the game-winning tally for her sixth goal of the season.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons move to 3-3 on the young season and will now turn their attention to the SUNY Cortland Red Dragons and a rematch of last year's Sweet 16. The Falcons earned a 16-12 victory in that NCAA Tournament match-up last season. Messiah will host the Red Dragons next Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. on the Lacrosse Turf.