ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – The Messiah University men's lacrosse team defeated the Eastern University Eagles 15-12, on Wednesday afternoon to improve to 2-0 in MAC Commonwealth play. The Falcons started the game strong with a 3-1 lead after the first quarter. The Eagles outscored the Falcons by one in the second quarter to put the score at 7-6 at the half. Both teams scored four goals in the third quarter to keep the Falcons lead at one headed into the final quarter. The Falcons used strong defense and a couple of timely goals to pull away and defeat the Eagles, 15-12. Mike McKnelly led the Falcons with seven goals. Chad Teresky totaled six points on three goals and three assists.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Reading, Pa. to take on the Lions of Albright College at 12:00 p.m.

First Quarter
The Eagles started the game strong with a goal in the first 13 seconds to take an early lead. The Falcons quickly responded with a goal from Jesse Lynch just seven seconds later to tie the game at one. Bobby Berg then scored a goal from Chad Teresky less than a minute later to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. After some great defense from both sides, Mike McKnelly scored a goal from Seth Libby with 2:55 remaining in the quarter to give the Falcons a 3-1 lead.
 
Second Quarter
The Eagles once again started the quarter strong with a goal to reduce the Falcons lead to one with 13:44 remaining in the half. The Falcons then extended their lead to two with a goal from Chad Teresky just a minute later. The Eagles then responded with two straight goals to tie the game at four with 7:29 remaining in the half. Two minutes later, the Falcons scored two straight goals both from Mike McKnelly to take a 6-4 lead with 3:31 remaining. The Eagles once again responded with two straight goals to tie the game at six with 26 seconds remaining. The Falcons went into the half with some momentum with a Chad Teresky goal in the final seconds of the half to give the Falcons a 7-6 lead at the break.
 
Third Quarter
The Falcons started the third quarter strong with a four-goal run that started with a goal From Bobby Berg and ended with two straight Mike McKnelly goals from Owen Hammel to give the Falcons a 11-6 lead with 8:09 remaining in the third. The Eagles then went on a 4-0 run with three man-up goals to reduce the Falcons lead to 11-10 heading into fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Falcons opened the fourth quarter with three unanswered goals, with Mike McKnelly scoring two and Chad Teresky scoring another to give the Falcons a 14-10 lead with 8:04 remaining. The Eagles were not going down without a fight and scored two straight goals to reduce the Falcons lead to two with 6:35 remaining in the game. The defense shut down the Eagles offense for the remainder of the game and Bobby Berg sent the sealing goal into the back of the net with 2:51 remaining to give the Falcons the 15-12 win.
 
Stats
Mike McKnelly led the Falcons with seven goals. Chad Teresky totaled six points on three goals and three assists. Bobby Berg added four points on three goals and an assist. Owen Hammel dished out two assists. Jesse Lynch and Grant Peffall each totaled a caused turnover and four ground balls to lead the Falcons defense. Ben Antel and Tristan Lynch each won six faceoffs. Jourdain Algarin earned the win in the cage for the Falcons and made 12 saves.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to Reading, Pa. to take on the Lions of Albright College at 12:00 p.m.