GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah University men's lacrosse team cruised to a 17-11 win over the Bridgewater College Eagles on Wednesday afternoon. After Bridgewater opening the scoring, the Falcons scored four straight goals in the first quarter to take an early 4-1 lead. The Falcons then outscored the Eagles 5-1 in the second quarter to take a 9-2 lead at the half. The Falcons continued to dominate on the offensive end outscoring the Eagles 5-2 to take a 14-4 lead entering the final quarter. The Eagles outscored the Falcons 7-3, but Messiah's lead from the first three quarters was too big and the Falcons won, 17-11. Chad Teresky led the Falcons with six assists. Owen Hammel totaled four goals and an assist. Mike McKnelly and Bobby Berg each scored a hat-trick.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Eagles of Mary Washington on Saturday, March 9 at 1:00 p.m.

First Quarter
The Eagles opened the game with a goal in the first minute in a half to take a 1-0 lead. The Falcons responded with two quick goals with Seth Libby opening the scoring and a Mike McKnelly behind-the-back goal to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead with 10:53 remaining in the first quarter. The Falcons added two more goals in the final three minutes from Owen Hammel and Chris Esslinger to put the Falcons up 4-1 after the first quarter.
 
Second Quarter
The Falcons opened the second quarter with three goals in the first five minutes with Jed Davis highlighting the run for the Falcons with a transition goal to give the Falcons a 7-1 lead. After some good defensive plays from both sides, the Eagles added a goal to reduce the Falcons lead to 7-2 with 6:51 remaining in the half. The Falcons ended with half with two goals in the final three minutes from Michael Cook and Mike McKnelly to give the Falcons a 9-2 lead at the half.
 
Third Quarter
The Falcons opened the second half with two straight goals from Mike McKnelly from Chad Teresky and a Bobby Berg goal to push the Falcons lead to 11-2 with 11:25 remaining in the third. The Eagles responded with a goal just a minute later to put the Eagles within eight. The Falcons responded again with another two-goal run with man-up goals from RJ Mellor and Bobby Berg to push the Falcons lead to 13-3 with 7:40 remaining in the third. The Eagles scored a goal with six minutes remaining, but the Falcons closed the third quarter strong with a Bobby Berg goal from Seth Libby to out the Falcons up 14-4 headed into the final quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Eagles scored a goal in the first minute, but the Falcons added another goal from Owen Hammel by Chad Teresky to put the Falcons back up by 10 with 11:55 remaining in the game. The two teams once again traded goals, with RJ Mellor scoring for the Falcons with 6:20 remaining. After another Eagles goal, Chris Esslinger scored from Chad Teresky to put the score at 17-7 with 2:53 remaining in the game. The Eagles ended the game with a 4-0 run to put the final score at 17-11.
 
Stats
Chad Teresky led the Falcons with six assists and scooped up five ground balls. Owen Hammel totaled five points on four goals and an assist. Mike McKnelly and Bobby Berg each score a hat trick. Tristan Lynch had three caused turnovers and five ground balls. David Gross caused two turnovers and scooped up two ground balls. Ben Antel went 7-of-20 from the faceoff X with three ground balls. Jourdain Algarin earned the win in the cage for the Falcons, making six saves. Brock Roe earned time in the cage and made five saves. Sam Lightner also appeared in the net for the Falcons.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Eagles of Mary Washington on Saturday, March 9 at 1:00 p.m.