GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah women's lacrosse team used five goals in the fourth quarter pull away to defeat the Stevenson University Mustangs,15-12 and remain unbeaten in conference play. The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with the Falcons leading 3-2. The Falcons scored three unanswered goals to end the second quarter to jump to an 8-5 lead at the half. The Mustangs totaled five goals in the third quarter and the game was tied at 10 headed into the fourth quarter. The Falcons scored the first and the last two goals of the fourth quarter to pull away from the Mustangs and win 15-12.
 
Grace Petttitt led the Falcons with six points on a goal and five assists. Hayley Lettinga totaled five goals and added in two caused turnovers. Annalise Keitel tallied four points on three goals and an assist. Grace Hejeebu earned the win the cage for the Falcons, with seven saves in the second half.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Reading, Pa. to take on the Golden Wolves of Alvernia University on Wednesday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m.
 
How It Happened
Messiah opened up the scoring with three of the first four goals in the contest. Just 15 seconds into the game, Hannah Gawne found the back of the cage for a 1-0 Messiah lead. After the Mustangs leveled the score just over a minute later, Annalise Keitel put the Falcons back on top with an unassisted goal just under seven minutes into the match. Two and a half minutes later, Messiah scored again, this time off a shot from Natalie Macri. Macri's goal was assisted by Grace Pettitt and came on a power play.
 
With the Falcons leading 3-1, Stevenson scored the final goal of the first quarter to pull within on at 3-2 after 15 minutes of action.
 
A strong finish to the second quarter put Messiah in the driver's seat at halftime. The Falcons were on the board first in the second quarter with a goal from Pettitt, but Stevenson three of the next four goals to tie things up at 5-5 with just under five minutes remaining in the half. In a little under two and a half minutes, Messiah answered with three goals, taking advantage of a pair of Stevenson cards. Woman-up goals from Hayley Lettinga and Katie Bukiewicz were assisted by Pettitt and put Messiah up 7-5. Bukiewicz capped off the scoring for the half with a free-position goal and the Falcons held an 8-5 lead at the break.
 
  Things looked bleak for the Falcons over the first half of the third quarter. Stevenson rattled off four-straight goals to turn a three-goal Messiah lead at the half into a Mustangs lead midway through the third quarter at 9-8. Messiah responded with goals from Natalie Macri and Hayley Lettinga, but Stevenson scored to level the game at 10-10 as the third quarter came to a close.
 
A scoreless start to the fourth for both teams kept the game square at 10-10, until a woman-down goal by Annalise Keitel put the Falcons on top 11-10 with 8:42 left in regulation. After Emma Hagg collected the draw control, Hayley Lettinga scored her fourth goal of the game to put the Falcons up 12-10. Stevenson would pull within one goal on a free-position attempt, but Annalise Keitel connected to push the cushion back to two goals.
 
With 5:12 remaining, Stevenson once again pulled within one with Isabelle VanEmburgh making it a 13-12 game. After the Mustangs won the ensuing draw control, Messiah saw Stevenson miss wide on a free-position attempt and Grace Hejeebu make a save to kept the Falcons on top. Insurance goals were added late by the Falcons with Katie Bukiewicz and Hayley Lettinga scoring in the final three minutes as the Falcons were able to burn the clock and claim the exciting 15-12 victory.
 
With the victory, the Falcons are in great shape to host a MAC Commonwealth semifinal game in the upcoming MAC Commonwealth Tournament. The Falcons remain undefeated in the conference, holding a 5-0 record.
 
What's Up Next
The Falcons are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Alvernia to take on the Golden Wolves at 6:00 p.m. Messiah will wrap up the regular season against the York Spartans at home on Apr. 27 with the opening draw control scheduled for 1:00 p.m.