GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Messiah women's lacrosse team suffered a 15-4 setback against the No. 4 Salisbury Sea Gulls on Wednesday evening. The Sea Gulls scored the first six goals of the contest and eventually took a 9-2 lead at the half. Messiah came out quick, scoring the first goal of the second half from Grace Pettitt, but Salisbury netted the next three tallies. Hayley Lettinga got ont he board early in the fourth, but the Sea Gulls closed out the game with three scores to earn the 15-4 win.
 
Grace Pettitt led the Falcons with a pair of goals while Annalise Keitel and Hayley Lettinga also connected on goals.
 
The Falcons will be back in action on Wednesday, Apr. 3 when they travel to Lebanon Valley to take on the Dutchmen at 4:00 p.m.
 
How It Happened
The Falcons hung tough with the Sea Gulls through the opening period, allowing just two goals through the first 14-plus minutes of the contest. Messiah trialed 2-0 with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, but Salisbury scored with 16 seconds remaining on a goal from Caroline Knight. On the ensuing draw control, Salisbury's Grace Doyle grabbed the draw and went right to goal, scoring just 10 seconds later to make it a 4-0 game, heading to the second quarter.
 
Salisbury extended the lead to 6-0 with a pair of goals in the beginning of the second quarter, but Grace Pettitt got the Falcons on the board with a spinning goal. Pettitt worked her way around the crease, using a spin move to evade her defender. A low shot slipped past the goalie to pull Messiah within five at 6-1.
 
 After two more Sea Gull goals, Messiah's Annalise Keitel found the back of the cage with an unassisted goal to make it an 8-2 game. Salisbury scored the final goal of the half and took a 9-2 advantage into the break.
 
Messiah scored an exciting transition goal in the beginning of the second half with Hannah Gawne finding Grace Pettitt for the Falcons' third goal of the evening. Pettitt's second goal of the game came just 2:25 into the third quarter. After Pettitt's goal, the Sea Gulls controlled the remainder of the period outshooting Messiah 14-1 in the period and holding the Falcons to a 3-9 effort on clears. Salisbury scored three times in the third quarter and took a 12-3 lead into the fourth.
 
Just like the third quarter, Messiah was on the board first in the fourth with Hayley Lettinga netting an unassisted tally with 11:22 remaining in the game. Salisbury finished the game with a pair of goals from Regan McDonnell and a tally from Audrey Harrington.
 
In the game, the Sea Gulls held a 40-13 advantage in shots while going a perfect 22-22 on clear attempts. Salisbury's ride held the Falcons to a 14-22 effort on clears in the game.
 
Messiah did hold a 14-9 advantage in draw controls on the evening.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons will take the Easter weekend off from competition, but will be back in action next Wednesday when they travel to Lebanon Valley to take on the Dutchmen at 4:00 p.m.