GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The No. 24 Messiah Women's Lacrosse team traveled to Gettysburg College on Wednesday, Feb. 25, to take on the fourth ranked Bullets. The Bullets showed their dominance early, scoring four unanswered goals in the opening four minutes of play. The teams each notched three goals in the second to give Gettysburg a 7-3 lead into halftime. Each team tallied a pair of goals in each of the remaining quarters to give Gettysburg the 11-7 win. Hayley Lettinga led the Falcons with three goals, with four Falcons each tallying one goal each. Hannah Gawne led Messiah with five ground balls and added four draw controls. Grace Hejeebu made eight saves in the loss.

The Falcons return to action on Wednesday, Mar. 4, when they host the eighth ranked Sea Gulls of Salisbury University. Action is set to begin at 4:00 PM at the Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium.

First Quarter
Gettysburg was dominant, showing off their top five ranking in the first quarter, scoring four goals in the first four minutes of play. After a timeout from Messiah, Grace Hejeebu made three saves in 43 seconds in goal for the Falcons to keep the deficit at four. Katie Bukiewicz tallied a caused turnover and groundball before Hayley Lettinga fired a shot just wide. Hejeebu made one more save in goal on a shot from the Bullets before Hannah Gawne fired a free position shot off the post to end the first quarter.

Second Quarter
After Grace Pettitt caused a turnover early in the second, Hayley Lettinga scored an unassisted, man-up goal to put the Falcons on the board. A minute later, Hannah Gawne recovered a ground ball on a caused turnover to give Messiah possession and Grace Pettitt found the back of the cage for a 4-2 score in favor of Gettysburg. Gettysburg tallied another goal and looked for a quick follow-up, but Grace Hejeebu was able to make the save. The Falcons looked to add a goal when Lettinga fired a shot of the post before a follow-up shot from Brynn Johnsen was blocked. The Bullets added a man-up goal before Katie Bukiewicz found Hannah Gawne for a 6-3 score. Gettysburg scored one more and Grace Hejeebu tallied a save as the Bullets took a 7-3 lead heading into halftime.

Third Quarter
Messiah opened the second half with a groundball pickup for Annalise Keitel and a shot from Alina Bernal-Clark that forced a save from the Gettysburg goalie. Messiah then scored a pair of goals split by a save from Grace Hejeebu. Hayley Lettinga first scored a man-down goal at the 12:02 mark before Jordan Lewicki scored an unassisted tally at 9:27 to cut the deficit to two at 7-5. The Bullets were quick to regain a three-goal lead, scoring just a minute later. Bernal-Clark had a shot saved before four minutes of back-and-forth play. The Bullets scored a man-up goal to hold a 9-5 lead with one quarter remaining.

Fourth Quarter
Hayley Lettinga fired an early shot on goal that was saved by the Gettysburg goalie before the Bullets fired a shot off the post. Grace Hejeebu made a save in goal before a failed clear attempt for the Falcons led to a groundball for the Bullets and a goal to make it 10-5. After four minutes of traded possession, Grace Pettitt found Hayley Lettinga to bring the score to 10-6 in favor of Gettysburg. Lettinga fired another shot on goal just a minute later, but the Gettysburg goalie was able to make the save. With just over four minutes remaining, the Bullets found the back of the goal to extend their lead once again. Katie Bukiewicz earned the draw control for Messiah and after a pair of fouls for the Bullets. Brynn Johnsen scored a free position goal to bring the score to 11-7 in favor of Gettysburg. Alina Bernal-Clark had a late free position attempt, but the Gettysburg goalie made the save as the No. 24 Falcons fell 11-7 to the No. 4 Bullets.

Stats
Hayley Lettinga led the Falcons with three goals, with four Falcons each tallying one goal each. Hannah Gawne led Messiah with five ground balls and added four draw controls. Grace Hejeebu made eight saves in the loss.

Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Wednesday, Mar. 4, when they host the eighth ranked Sea Gulls of Salisbury University. Action is set to begin at 4:00 PM at the Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium.