WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Messiah University men's lacrosse team defeated the Cardinals of Catholic University, 10-7 to open the 2026 season. In a tight defensive start, the two teams were tied at one at the end of the first. The Cardinals outscored the Falcons by two in the second to take a 6-4 lead at the half. The Falcons scored three unanswered goals in the third to take a 7-6 lead headed into the fourth. The Falcons continued the momentum into the fourth, outscoring the Cardinals 3-1, to earn the 10-7 win. Bobby Berg led the Falcons with seven points on four goals and three assists. Quentin Davis scored four goals. Adam Collison led the Falcons defense with five caused turnovers. Jourdain Algarin earned the win and made 13 saves in the cage for the Falcons.
 
Up next, the Falcons travel to Lancaster, Pa. to take on the Diplomats of Franklin and Marshall College on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m.
 
First Quarter
After a pair of saves from Jourdain Algarin to start the game, Chris Esslinger broke the scoreless tie with 11 minutes remaining in the first to give the Falcons an early lead. After 10 minutes of shutdown defense from both sides, the Cardinals scored a man-up goal with 1:40 remaining in the first to tie the game at one at the end of the first.
 
Second Quarter
The Falcons started the second strong with a goal from Bobby Berg by Noah Rabolli to give the Falcons back the lead. The Cardinals quickly responded with a goal just 30 seconds later to tie the game at two with 13:30 remaining in the second. The Falcons took back the lead just a minute later on a goal from Quentin Davis, but again the Cardinals responded quickly to tie the game at three with 11 minutes remaining in the half. The Cardinals then took their first lead of the game with just under eight minutes remaining in the second. A few minutes later, the Falcons tied the game at four with Davis' second goal of the quarter. The Cardinals though scored two straight goals to close out the half with a 6-4 lead.
 
Third Quarter
The Falcons opened the third strong with a goal from Bobby Berg to reduce the Cardinals lead to one with 11:40 remaining in the third. After almost five minutes of scoreless play, the Falcons tied the game on a Berg goal from Quinn Foster. Berg then scored his third goal of the third quarter to give the Falcons a 7-6 lead headed into the fourth quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
After almost seven minutes of scoreless play, the Falcons scored a man-up goal from Quentin Davis from Bobby Berg to push the Falcons lead to 8-6 with eight minutes remaining in the game. The Falcons then score two more goals, with Davis and Jesse Lynch scoring for the Falcons to push their lead to 10-6 with just under three minutes remaining in the game. The Cardinals added a goal in the final seconds, but the Falcons earned the 10-7 win.
 
Stats
Bobby Berg led the Falcons with seven points on four goals and three assists. Quentin Davis scored four goals. Chris Esslinger and Jesse Lynch each added a goal. Adam Collison led the Falcons defense with five caused turnovers and four ground balls. Carter Jaehn, Caleb McHugh, and Grant Peffall each caused two turnovers.  Jourdain Algarin earned the win and made 13 saves in the cage for the Falcons.
 
Next
The Falcons travel to Lancaster, Pa. to take on the Diplomats of Franklin and Marshall College on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m.