GRANVILLE, Ohio – The No. 17 Messiah University Women's Lacrosse team headed to Ohio to take on the N0. 11 Big Red of Denison University on Wednesday, March 11. After a storm delay moved the game from afternoon to under the lights, the Falcons and Big Red squared off for a Top 25 match-up. The Falcons took a 4-1 lead in the first before the Big Red battled back in the second to hold a 6-5 lead at halftime. After an offensive battle in the third, Denison extended their lead to 11-8 with one quarter remaining. Messiah tallied three unanswered goals to notch the score 11-11 with 7:51 to play before Denison scored the game winner about three minutes later. Jordan Lewicki led the Falcons with five goals while Grace Pettitt added three goals and an assist. Hayley Lettinga tallied a pair of goals with Annalise Keitel adding three assists. Lewicki added three ground balls and two draw controls. Hannah Gawne added a goal with three draw controls and two caused turnovers.

The Falcons are next in action on Wednesday, Match 18, when they host Haverford College at 4:00 p.m. at the Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium.

First Quarter
Despite Denison earning the opening draw control, a caused turnover by Emile Cotton resulted in a ground ball for Jordan Lewicki. In transition, Hayley Lettinga missed a shot just wide before Grace Pettitt found the back of the net just over a minute into play to give Messiah a 1-0 lead. The Big Red fired a shot at the other end of the field, but Grace Hejeebu was able to make the save. After Pettitt secured a ground ball, she found the back of the net a second time to extend the Falcons' lead to 2-0. After a trade in possession, Annalise Keitel found Jordan Lewicki to give Messiah a 3-0 lead 4:33 into the game. The next six minutes resulted in off-frame shots from both teams before a shot from Keitel forced a save by the Big Red goalie. After a shot wide and foul, Denison found the back of the net with a free position shot to get on the board at 3-1 in favor of Messiah. Hayley Lettinga tallied an unassisted goal with 21 seconds on the clock to give Messiah a 4-1 lead after the first quarter.

Second Quarter
The Big Red looked to make it a close game in the second, scoring less than a minute into play. After a save in goal for Grace Hejeebu, a foul resulted in a man-up opportunity for Denison that led to a goal to cut the deficit to one. After six scoreless minutes, the Big Red scored the equalizer with 5:16 to play in the first half. The teams then traded goals with Annalise Keitel finding Jordan Lewicki before Denison found the back of the goal a minute later to notch it 5-5. Denison was quick to take the lead with a goal 30 seconds later. A shot on frame from Hayley Lettinga was saved by the Big Red goalie to give Denison the 6-5 lead at halftime.

Third Quarter
Out of the break, Hannah Gawne caused a turnover and retrieved the ball to give the Falcons their first possession. Grace Pettitt found Jordan Lewicki to notch the score at 6-6 before the Big Red regained the lead a minute later. Denison earned the draw control but a caused turnover by Brynn Johnsen gave the Falcons possession and led to a goal by Jordan Lewicki from Alina Bernal-Clark to level the score 7-7. The Big Red scored a pair of unanswered goals to take a 9-7 lead with 8:27 to play in the third. The teams traded possession over the next four minutes before the Big Red extended their lead to 11-7 after another pair of goals. Hannah Gawne scored on a man-up free position attempt to bring the score to 11-8 in favor of the Big Red with one quarter remaining.

Fourth Quarter
The Big Red missed a free position shot to open the final quarter before a shot from Grace Pettitt was saved by the Denison goalie. Pettitt and Hayley Lettinga then each scored unassisted goals to cut the Messiah deficit to one at 11-10 with 10:11 to play. A shot on goal from Denison was saved by Grace Hejeebu before Annalise Keitel found Jordan Lewicki at the other end of the field to tie the score 11-11 with 7:51 to play. After a Big Red timeout, Denison missed a free position shot high before finding the goal with 4:58 to play to take a 12-11 lead. Denison earned the draw control and took a timeout, looking to strategize another goal to extend their lead, but Emile Cotton caused a turnover and retrieved the ground ball to give Messiah possession and a chance to call a timeout with 3:34 to draw up their own plan. Out of the break, the Falcons were unable to register a shot before Grace Hejeebu made a save in goal to keep the deficit at one with 2:10 to play. The Falcons were unable to regain possession in the remaining minutes, and Denison earned the 12-11 win.

Stats
Jordan Lewicki led the Falcons with five goals while Grace Pettitt added three goals and an assist. Hayley Lettinga tallied a pair of goals with Annalise Keitel adding three assists. Lewicki added three ground balls and two draw controls. Hannah Gawne added a goal with three draw controls and two caused turnovers.

Up Next
The Falcons are next in action on Wednesday, Match 18, when they host Haverford College at 4:00 p.m. at the Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium.