GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday morning, the Messiah University men's lacrosse team defeated the Cardinals of Catholic, 17-14 on a snowy field. The Cardinals took an early 5-2 after the first quarter. The Falcons battled back in the second outscoring the Cardinals 5-1 to take a 7-6 lead at the break. Each team scored five goals in the third to set up an exciting fourth quarter finish. The Falcons outscored the Cardinals by two in the final quarter and held onto possession for most of the end of the game to earn the 17-14 win. Bobby Berg and Michael Cook each led the Falcons with three goals and three assists. Owen Hammel and Will Ehrhart each scored hat-tricks.

Up next, The Falcons host the Garnet of Swarthmore College on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3:00 p.m.

First Quarter
The Cardinals opened the game strong with three-straight goals to take an early lead. The Falcons looked to answer, and Owen Hammel scored an unassisted goal to reduce to Cardinals lead to 3-1 with nine minutes remaining in the first. The Cardinals then scored two straight goals, but Chad Teresky scored the final goal of the quarter to reduce the Cardinals lead to 5-2.

Second Quarter
Both teams struggled with the winter conditions to start the second, but Michael Cook broke the scoreless stretch with a goal from Jesse Lynch to reduce Catholic's lead to two with 10 minutes remaining in the half. The Falcons then scored a flurry of goals, rattling off a 4-1 run to end the second with a 7-6 lead. Mike McKnelly, Dean Gillette, Owen Hammel, and Will Ehrhart each scored a goal during the Falcons run.

Third Quarter
Both teams started to settle into the game in the third with each team answering each other's goals. In the first five minutes, both teams scored two goals each, with Will Ehrhart and Mike McKnelly each scoring a goal for the Falcons. The Cardinals then answered back with two straight goals to give the Cardinals a 10-9 lead with just under eight minutes remaining in the third. The Falcons continued to battle and answered back with a man-down goal from Michael Cook and a man-up goal from Owen Hammel to put the Falcons back in front by one with three minutes remaining in the quarter. Each team added another goal in the final three minutes with Bobby Griffith scoring a goal for the Falcons to give Messiah a 12-11 lead headed into the fourth.

Fourth Quarter
The Falcons opened the final quarter strong with a 3-1 run in the first five minutes of the fourth. Bobby Berg scored two and Will Ehrhart scored one for the Falcons during the run. The Cardinals tried to comeback, but after each of the two goals the Falcons responded with one of their own to earn the 17-14 win. Bobby Berg and Michael Cook each scored a goal in the final 10 minutes to preserve the Falcons win.
 
Stats
Bobby Berg and Michael Cook each led the Falcons with three goals and three assists. Owen Hammel and Will Ehrhart each scored hat-tricks. Mike McKnelly, Dean Gillette, and Bobby Griffith each added two points. Walker Penchansky led the Falcons with five caused turnovers. Seth Gibson, Adam Collison, and JJ Bender each caused two turnovers. Bender added six faceoff wins and Brady Miller added five faceoff wins. Chris Esslinger led the Falcons with five ground balls. Adam Collison, Jed Davis, Grant Peffall, and Bobby Berg each scooped up four ground balls. Jourdain Algarin earned the win in the cage for the Falcons and made 13 saves. Algarin heated up as the game went on, making 11 saves in the second half.

Next
The Falcons host the Garnet of Swarthmore College on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 3:00 p.m.