GRANTHAM, Pa. – The No. 24 Messiah Women's Lacrosse team opened the 2026 season against No. 25 University of Scranton on Saturday, Feb. 14 at the Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium. The teams were notched 3-3 at the half before Messiah took a 6-4 lead in the third with a pair of goals from Hayley Lettinga and one from Grace Pettitt. Messiah outscored Scranton 5-1 in the fourth quarter, earning the 11-5 win. Lettinga, Pettitt, and Annalise Keitel each tallied three goals for the Falcons while Hannah Gawne and Jordan Lewicki each added one. Katie Bukiewicz led the defense with three caused turnovers, six ground balls, and added two draw controls.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday, Feb. 21 when they travel to Susquehanna University. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m. against the Riverhawks.

First Quarter
In what was anticipated to be a competitive season opening contest between two nationally ranked teams, Messiah sought the attack first, with Jordan Lewicki winning the draw control. The Falcons possessed the ball cleanly as Hannah Gawne got Messiah on the board just 38 seconds into the game. Annalise Keitel recovered the next draw control, but the Royals were able to secure the ball. The first shot for Scranton was fired just over two minutes into play, but Grace Hejeebu made the save in goal for Messiah. A minute later, the Royals earned a free position attempt and were able to successfully convert the free position shot to level the score 1-1. Riley Lewicki was next to fire a shot on goal, but the Scranton goalie was able to make the save. With a two-man up advantage, Scranton fired a shot on goal that Hejeebu was again able to save. The Royals fired a pair of shots on goal that were saved by Hejeebu before Grace Pettitt gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead with an unassisted goal. With just under two minutes to play, Hayley Lettinga found the back of the cage to give Messiah a 3-1 advantage heading into the second quarter.

Second Quarter
Out of the break, the Falcons and Royals battled much of the first seven minutes in the midfield, with Jordan Lewicki and Annalise Keitel each placing a shot on frame that were both saved by the Scranton goalie. At the 8:07 mark, the Royals earned their second free position attempt of the game and were again able to convert for a free position goal, bringing the score to 3-2 in favor of Messiah. Just a minute later, the Royals leveled the score at 3-3. Hayley Lettinga had a shot saved by the Royals goalie before Grace Pettitt fired a pair on goal that were saved. With just over a minute remaining in the first half, the Royals fired a shot on goal that was saved by Grace Hejeebu as the Falcons and Royals headed into halftime notched 3-3.

Third Quarter
The Royals earned the first draw control of the second half but a caused turnover by Addyson Wagman was recovered by Brynn Johnsen to give the Falcons possession. Alina Bernal-Clark and Hayley Lettinga each fired a shot but were unable to find the back of the cage. After Grace Hejeebu secured a ground ball and sent it up field, Grace Pettitt found Hayley Lettinga for a Falcons' goal, bringing the score to 4-3. Lettinga won the draw control and Hannah Gawne fired a shot that was saved before Scranton recovered the ball. Scranton was unable to possess the ball and as the Falcons returned to their offensive end, Jordan Lewicki found Lettinga to extend the Messiah lead to 5-3. With just under six minutes to play, Hejeebu made a save on a free position shot to keep the Falcons lead at two. A minute later, Hejeebu made a save that was followed by a high shot before the Royals found the back of the net to cut the deficit to one at 5-4. Scranton looked for the equalizer on their next possession, but Hejeebu was able to make the save. Hayley Lettinga fired a shot on goal that was saved before Grace Pettitt recovered the ground ball and ultimately scored, giving Messiah a 6-4 lead with one period remaining.

Fourth Quarter
Messiah looked to continue their momentum from the end of the third as Hayley Lettinga fired the first shot of the fourth, with a ricochet off the post. After Alina Bernal-Clark missed a shot just high, Jordan Lewicki found Annalise Keitel to extend the Falcons lead to 7-4 with 12:19 to play. Scranton won the draw control but a caused turnover by Hannah Gawne that was recovered by Brynn Johnsen found its way to Lewicki from Lettinga for Messiah's eighth goal. A minute later, Gawne found Keitel to extend the lead to 9-4. The next three minutes were played back-and-forth before Scranton fired their first shot of the quarter at 7:00 on a free position attempt. Grace Hejeebu made the save and the score remained 9-4. Annalise Keitel scored on a free position attempt before Grace Hejeebu was forced to make back-to-back saves in goal. Grace Pettitt gave Messiah an 11-4 lead with three minutes remaining. Hannah Gawne fired a shot on goal that was saved by the Scranton goalie before the Royals tallied a goal with 1:25 remaining, bringing the final score to 11-5 in favor of Messiah.

Stats
Hayley Lettinga, Annalise Keitel, and Grace Pettitt each tallied three goals for the Falcons while Hannah Gawne and Jordan Lewicki each added one. Katie Bukiewicz led the defense with three caused turnovers, six ground balls, and added two draw controls. Grace Hejeebu made 11 saves in goal for the Falcons. Messiah outshot Scranton 27-20, placing 21 on goal to the Royals 11.

Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Saturday, Feb. 21 when they travel to Susquehanna University. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m. against the Riverhawks.