GRANTHAM, Pa. - In a battle of top-15 teams, the No. 14 Messiah women's lacrosse team suffered a 20-7 setback against the No. 12 York Spartans on Wednesday afternoon. The Spartans hustled out to an 8-0 early in the second quarter, eventually taking a 12-4 advantage at the half. York then extended their lead in the final 30 minutes, outscoring the Falcons 8-3 after the break en route to the 13-goal victory.
 
Offensively, Amanda Wadsworth, Grace Gormley, and Emma Lytle each scored two goals to lead Messiah.
 
With the loss, Messiah snaps their seven-game winning streak and suffers their first loss in the MAC Commonwealth this season. The Falcons move to 10-4 on the season and 4-1 in the conference, while York now has the inside track to the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth with a 6-0 conference record.
 
York Builds Lead
The Spartans dominated the first 18 minutes of the contest, scoring eight-straight goals to begin the game. Teresa Matthias led the effort with three tallies while Madison Kurland and Teresa Matthias each netted two goals.
 
Falcons Get on the Board
With 11:34 remaining in the second quarter, Messiah got on the board with a tally from Amanda Wadsworth. Her 20th score of the season started a 4-1 Messiah run that pulled the Falcons within five at 9-4. Along with Wadsworth's score, Messiah's Rachel Delate, Grace Gormley, and Emma Lytle all scored during the mini run in the middle of the quarter.
 
York closed out the half with three-straight goals to take a 12-4 lead at the break.
 
Spartans Close Out the Victory
The Spartans continued their scoring run with two more goals in the first nine minutes of the third quarter to build a 10-goal lead at 14-4. Emma Lytle connected on Messiah's only tally of the third quarter with 3:39 left in the stanza.
 
In the fourth, Grace Gormley and Amanda Wadsworth each scored their second goals of the game, but York countered with five fourth-quarter goals to close out the 20-7 win.
 
Teresa Matthias led the Spartans with six goals on six shots.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons have just three regular-season game remaining in the 2022 slate. Messiah will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to Lebanon Valley for an 11:00 a.m. match against the Dutchmen.