GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Wednesday evening, the Messiah University men's lacrosse team fell to the Eagles of Eastern University, 18-13. The back-and-forth affair started in the first quarter with the Eagles outscoring the Falcons 5-4 in the first quarter. The Falcons bounced back in the second outscoring the Eagles by three to take a 9-7 lead into the half. The Eagles came out of the half with four straight goals, but the Falcons scored two straight goals to tie the game at 11 with 3:35 remaining in the third. The Eagles ended the third with three more goals to take a 14-11 lead into the final quarter. The Eagles outscored the Falcons 4-2 in the fourth to earn the 18-13 win. Dean Gillette and Bobby Berg led the Falcons with three goals and an assist each. Jesse Lynch and Michael Cook each tallied a goal and an assist. David Gross led the Falcons defense with four caused turnovers and three ground balls.
 
Up next, the Falcons host the Lions of Albright College on Saturday, April 12 at 1:00 p.m.

First Quarter
The Falcons opened the game strong with two straight goals in the first five minutes with Chad Teresky and Eric Hoover scoring for the Falcons. After a couple scoreless minutes, the Falcons and Eagles went back-and-forth with each team scoring two goals to put the score at 4-2 with just under five minutes remaining in the first. The stretch was highlighted by an unbelievable over-the-shoulder goal from Dean Gillette. The Eagles however, finished the quarter with three straight goals to take a 5-4 lead after the first quarter.
 
Second Quarter
After just over four minutes of scoreless play, the Falcons went on a 4-0 run to take an 8-5 lead with 4:11 remaining in the half. Dean Gillette and Bobby Berg each scored two goals for the Falcons during the run. After two straight Eagles' goals, Michael Cook ended the half with a goal with just 20 seconds remaining to give the Falcons a 9-7 lead at the half.
 
Third Quarter
After both teams' defenses controlled the first five minutes of the third, the Eagles rattled off a 4-0 run of their own to take a 11-9 lead with 6:12 remaining in the third. The Falcons though were not going down without a fight and Chris Esslinger and Jesse Lynch each scored a goal to tie the game at 11 with 3:35 remaining in the quarter. The Eagles closed the third with three straight goals to take a 14-11 lead into the fourth.
 
Fourth Quarter
The Falcons opened the fourth with a goal from Owen Hammel by Bobby Berg to reduce the Eagles lead to two with 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Eagles though scored four of the final five goals to earn the 18-13 win. Quentin Davis scored the final goal for the Falcons from Michael Cook.
 
Stats
Dean Gillette and Bobby Berg led the Falcons with three goals and an assist each. Jesse Lynch and Michael Cook each tallied a goal and an assist. David Gross led the Falcons defense with four caused turnovers and three ground balls. Brady Miller and Bradley Simons each tallied two faceoff wins. Jourdain Algarin earned the start in the cage for the Falcons and made five saves.
 
Next
The Falcons host the Lions of Albright College on Saturday, April 12 at 1:00 p.m.