SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The No. 24 Messiah Women's Lacrosse team traveled to Susquehanna University Saturday morning to take on the River Hawks. The Falcons led the River Hawks 4-3 after the first and extended their lead through each quarter. At the half, Messiah held a 10-6 lead before extending it to 15-8 with one quarter remaining. The Falcons earned the 19-9 win after adding four goals in the fourth quarter. Hayley Lettinga led the Falcons with seven points on five goals and two assists. Grace Pettitt tallied four goals and two assists while Alina Bernal-Clark and Jordan Lewicki each added three goals. Hannah Gawne led all players with nine draw controls and added four ground balls. Katie Bukiewicz, Grace Hejeebu, and Jordan Lewicki each collected four ground balls. Seven Falcons tallied goals in the win.

Messiah returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 25, when they travel to No. 4 Gettysburg College for a 4:00 p.m. match-up with the Bullets.

First Quarter
Katie Bukiewicz earned the opening draw control before the teams traded possession. Hannah Gawne fired the first shot of the game, but it was saved by the Susquehanna goalie. A minute later the River Hawks tallied the first goal of the game. The River Hawks took control from the draw control before a turnover caused by Hayley Lettinga shifted the momentum in the Falcons favor as Jordan Lewicki recovered the ground ball. Annalise Keitel fired a shot off the post before Grace Pettitt found the back of the cage to level the score 1-1. The River Hawks regained the lead at 2-1 with a goal at the 8:58 mark. With a man-up opportunity, Jordan Lewicki found Annalise Keitel for a 2-2 score. The River Hawks were quick to regain the lead with a goal a minute later. Jordan Lewicki recovered a ground ball and a quick give and go with Keitel led to a goal for Lewicki with 3:26 to play in the first. The Falcons second man-up opportunity of the game led to a similar result as the first, with Lewicki connecting with Hayley Lettinga to give Messiah the 4-3 lead with just over a minute to play. The River Hawks looked to notch the score as the clock wound out but Grace Hejeebu made the save in goal to maintain the 4-3 lead heading into the second.

Second Quarter
The Falcons were quick to extend their lead in the second with Alina Bernal-Clark finding Hannah Gawne for a goal just 35 seconds into the quarter. After Brynn Johnsen won the draw control, Jordan Lewicki looked to tally another, but the Susquehanna goalie made the save. After a ground ball pickup for Lewicki, Grace Pettitt found Bernal-Clark to extend the Messiah lead to 6-3.  Katie Bukiewicz secured the draw control and Grace Pettitt scored an unassisted goal to bring the score to 7-3 in favor of Messiah. The next four minutes were played back-and-forth before Susquehanna tallied their fourth goal of the game. Katie Bukiewicz secured the draw control and a shot from Hayley Lettinga missed just wide before Susquehanna took possession. The River Hawks were able to tally a goal, cutting the deficit to two at 7-5. The Falcons earned the first free position attempt of the game at the 5:07 mark. A shot from Jordan Lewicki was saved before Hannah Gawne recovered the ground ball and fired a shot on goal that was also saved. Messiah converted their third man-up opportunity with a goal for Gawne from Lettinga. On the next possession, the River Hawks found the back of the cage for an 8-6 score in favor of Messiah. After a save in goal from Grace Hejeebu, Jordan Lewicki converted on a free position attempt to give Messiah the 9-6 lead. Gawne secured the draw control for Messiah. Lettinga had a shot blocked before Grace Pettitt fired a recovery shot and found the back of the goal to give Messiah the 10-6 lead heading into halftime.

Third Quarter
Out of the break, the River Hawks took early control, tallying a goal 1:30 into play. After a save by Grace Hejeebu in goal, Alina Bernal-Clark scored an unassisted goal and Hayley Lettinga connected with Jordan Lewicki to give Messiah a 12-7 lead. Possession alternated between the teams for a few minutes before Messiah earned a free position attempt. Grace Pettitt fired a shot on goal that was saved before recovering the ground ball. Lettinga found the back of the goal to extend the lead to 13-7. Natalie Howell recovered a ground ball and Pettitt fired another shot on goal, but it was saved by the Susquehanna goalie. Brynn Johnsen caused a turnover and recovered the ball during a man-up opportunity and notched an unassisted goal for the 14-7 lead. After a timeout, the River Hawks notched a goal that was quickly followed by a goal for Hayley Lettinga from Grace Pettitt. The teams played four minutes of scoreless action with Alina Bernal-Clark and Lettinga each having shots saved and Grace Hejeebu picking up a save in goal as the Falcons held the 15-8 lead with one quarter remaining.

Fourth Quarter
Hannah Gawne won the opening draw control for Messiah before Hayley Lettinga tallied a goal to extend the lead to 16-8. Grace Pettitt fired a shot on goal that was saved and a minute late, Gawne found Pettitt for the 17th Falcon goal of the afternoon. The Falcons were quick to add to their lead with Katie Bukiewicz securing a pair of draw controls that led to goals from Alina Bernal-Clark and Lettinga, giving Messiah a 19-8 lead with 10:36 to play. The River Hawks gained possession and fired a shot on goal, but Grace Hejeebu made the save. After Kendall Bayley recovered a ground ball, Kayla Arnold fired a shot, but it was blocked by a defender. After the Falcons blocked a shot, the River Hawks recovered the ball and notched a goal to bring the score to 19-9 in favor of the Falcons. Grace Pettitt fired the Falcons last shot of the game, but the River Hawks goalie made the save. Grace Hejeebu caused a turnover and recovered the ground ball as time expired to solidify the 19-9 win for Messiah.

Stats
Hayley Lettinga led the Falcons with seven points on five goals and two assists. Grace Pettitt tallied four goals and two assists while Alina Bernal-Clark and Jordan Lewicki each added three goals. Hannah Gawne led all players with nine draw controls and added four ground balls. Katie Bukiewicz, Grace Hejeebu, and Jordan Lewicki each collected four ground balls. The Falcons outshot the River Hawks 37-20, placing 30 shots on goal to Susquehanna's 14.

Up Next
Messiah returns to action on Wednesday, Feb. 25, when they travel to No. 4 Gettysburg College for a 4:00 p.m. match-up with the Bullets.