GRANTHAM, Pa. – The No. 15 Messiah women's lacrosse team prevailed in a top-25 matchup on Wednesday afternoon, topping visiting No. 22 SUNY Cortland, 12-8, in Grantham, Pa. Rachel Delate provided five first-half goals, adding a sixth goal in the second half as the junior attacker recorded a game-high seven points. Six different Falcons recorded goals as Mackenzie O'Haver tallied seven saves, earning her third win of the season.
 
The victory improves Messiah's 2022 overall record to 4-3 on the season.
 
The game was a rematch of an NCAA Tournament game from the 2021 season as the Falcons topped Cortland, 16-12, on May 15 in Waterville, Maine.
 
Delate opened up the scoring at the 12:49 mark, taking advantage of a free-position opportunity to give the Falcons an early 1-0 edge. The junior attacker doubled her goals total just a minute later, receiving a key pass from Grace Gormley for the easy finish in the top left corner of the cage. Early on, the Falcons jumped ahead to a two-goal advantage.
 
The Red Dragons came storming back later in the opening quarter, scoring consecutive goals in fast succession to tie the game at 2-2. Gabby Meager scored her second tally of the season at the 3:59 mark while Lauren Hopsicker notched the game-tying goal with 3:19 remaining on the clock.
 
At the end of the first quarter, the two sides were knotted up at two goals each as the Falcons outshot Cortland, 8-2. Paige Potter had a standout performance in the cage for the Red Dragons, recording six saves to keep her side competitive.
 
Mackenzie O'Haver made a phenomenal save to begin the second quarter of play, denying Cortland on a free-position shot, reaching down low to with a stick save to keep the ball out of the net. Minutes later, the sophomore goalkeeper made another key save on a free-position shot to preserve the 2-2 deadlock between the two sides.
 
Messiah restored its lead at the 7:22 mark when Jana Krihak recorded her first goal of the season. The tally, her fourth-career goal, was assisted by Makenzie Schnur, putting the Falcons 3-2. The Red Dragons had a quick answer, scoring the tying and go-ahead tallies at the 6:36 and 5:59 marks to take a 4-3 edge over Messiah. Following Meager's second goal of the game with 3:28 remaining in the half, the Red Dragons took a two-goal lead (5-3), their largest lead of the game.
 
The Falcons took flight in the final 1:10 of the half, scoring three-consecutive goals to enter halftime with a 6-5 lead. Delate tallied all three goals, including a time-expiring tally to up her game total to five goals. At the half, the Falcons held a 6-5 lead, outshooting the Red Dragons 15-8.
 
Makenzie Schnur and Jessie Wynne each added goals in the third quarter as the Falcons remained ahead, 8-7, with five minutes remaining in the third period of play. With woman-up advantage, Messiah scored its ninth goal of the game, a precise finish from Abigail Evans to go ahead by two goals (9-7). Emma Lytle added the Falcons' tenth goal with just 20 seconds left in the quarter, growing their advantage to the largest of the afternoon, a three-goal lead.
 
Messiah outscored the Red Dragons, 4-2, during the third quarter, leading 10-7 entering the final quarter of play.
 
The Falcons cruised in the fourth quarter, registering two more goals as Delate and Wynne each contributed final tallies. Messiah earned the hard-fought victory, 12-8 over its top-25 foe.
 
What's Next
Messiah is back in action on Saturday, Mar. 26, traveling to the University of Mary Washington for a 1:00 p.m. game.