GRAMTHAM, Pa. – The No. 11 Messiah women's lacrosse team held off a late charge from the Shenandoah Hornets to earn a 12-10 victory on a beautiful Wednesday evening. Messiah trailed 2-1 at the end of the opening period, but ripped off a 6-1 second quarter to take a 7-3 lead at the break. The strong play continued with Messiah leading 10-4 early in the fourth quarter.
 
Over the next six minutes, Shenandoah went on a four-goal run to pull within two at 10-8 with 6:29 remaining in regulation. Goals from Hayley Lettinga and Emma Lytle less than a minute apart gave the Falcons a little breathing room at 12-8. While Shenandoah scored the final two goals, Messiah held on for the 12-10 victory to improve to 6-1 on the season.
 
Emma Lytle led the Falcons with five points on four goals and an assist as three different Falcons finished the evening with at least four points. Hayley Lettinga scored three goals and added an assist while Rachel Delate connected on four goals.
 
As mentioned, the Falcons move to 6-1 with the victory and will be back in action on Saturday afternoon when they host the Mary Washington Eagles on the Lacrosse Turf at 1:00 p.m.
 
How It Happened
A low-scoring opening quarter started the contest with the Hornets out in front 2-1 after 15 minutes of play. Messiah's Emma Lytle accounted for the lone Falcons' goal in the period.
 
Less than a minute into the second, Hayley Lettinga tied things up at 2-2 on an unassisted tally. After Shenandoah took a 3-2 lead, Messiah scored five-straight goals in the final 12 minutes of the opening half to take a 7-3 lead into the break. Rachel Delate accounted for four of those five goals, scoring three of them unassisted. Hannah Gawne dished out an assist on one of the tallies and Emma Lytle connected on the other score off a feed from Makenzie Schnur.
 
The lead was pushed to five after a score from Makenzie Schnur opened the second half. Like the first quarter, the third was a low-scoring one, but this time it was Messiah with a 2-1 advantage in the period. Lytle ended the quarter with a goal that put the Falcons up 9-4.
 
That lead turned to 10-4 after Hayley Lettinga scored her second goal of the day at the start of the fourth period, but for the next six minutes it was all Hornets. Shenandoah scored four-straight goals to pull within two at 10-8. Emily Lerch scored back-to-back goals before Emma Stiffler and Ainsley Buckner connected.
 
A goal from Hayley Lettinga stopped the bleeding for the Falcons with 5:05 remaining in regulation and Emma Lytle followed with her fourth goal of the day, putting Messiah up 12-8 with 4:24 to play.
 
While the Hornets scored twice in the final four minutes, the Falcons were able to hold off the late push and earn the 12-10 victory.
 
What's Up Next
Messiah will turn around and play the University of Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon on what is expected to be a rainy day in Grantham. The opening draw control is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.