GRANTHAM, Pa. – The No. 16 Messiah Women's Lacrosse team hosted the Seahawks of St. Mary's Maryland on Saturday afternoon at Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium. The Falcons and Seahawks battled through the first quarter, with the Falcons holding a 4-3 advantage. Messiah extended their lead to 8-5 heading into the half before outscoring the Seahawks 7-4 in the second half to claim the 15-9 win. Grace Pettitt led the Falcons with seven points on four goals and three assists. Hayley Lettinga tallied five goals while Hannah Gawne, Annalise Keitel, and Jordan Lewicki each added a pair. Lettinga tallied seven draw controls and two ground balls. Gawne added four draw controls with seven ground balls. Grace Hejeebu made 11 saves in goal for the Falcons.

The Falcons return to Witmer Family Lacrosse stadium at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25 against Shenandoah University.

First Quarter
The Seahawks earned the opening draw control, but Hannah Gawne was able to cause a turnover to give Messiah their first possession. Alina Bernal-Clark fired the first shot of the game on frame, but the St. Mary's goalie was able to make the save. After a shot from Hayley Lettinga missed just wide, the Seahawks were able to find the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. The Falcons were quick to answer when Grace Pettitt found Jordan Lewicki 30 seconds later to level the score at 1-1. Just over a minute later, Pettitt scored on a free position attempt to give Messiah a 2-1 lead. St. Mary's missed three shots, with Grace Hejeebu making a save in goal before St. Mary's called a timeout with 5:59 to play. Out of the break, the Seahawks lost possession and Hayley Lettinga scored an unassisted goal to extend the lead to 3-1. St. Mary's converted on a free position attempt and added a goal a minute later to tie the score 3-3 with just under three minutes to play. Grace Pettitt tallied a goal to give Messiah a 4-3 lead and Grace Hejeebu made a save in the final minute to hold the lead into the second quarter.

Second Quarter
Grace Pettitt fired the first shot of the second quarter and had her shot saved by the St. Mary's goalie. Pettitt then found Jordan Lewicki for a man-up goal before four minutes of scoreless action. After a timeout for the Falcons, Messiah earned a free position attempt and Hannah Gawne successfully converted to give Messiah the 6-3 lead. Hayley Lettinga had a pair of shots on frame saved by the Seahawks' goalie before a shot from Hannah Gawne was also saved. Grace Hejeebu made a save in goal for Messiah to kickstart a transition that saw Hayley Lettinga score her second goal of the game. After a Seahawks timeout, Lettinga had a shot on goal saved before the Seahawks converted on a free position shot to bring the score to 7-4.  The Seahawks tallied a goal and Hayley Lettinga added one on the next possession to bring the score to 8-5 in favor of Messiah heading into halftime.

Third Quarter
The Seahawks were first to get on the board in the third quarter before Grace Pettitt had a shot on goal saved by the St. Mary's goalie. Jordan Lewicki then found Annalise Keitel for a goal to take a 9-6 lead, causing a St. Mary's timeout. Out of the timeout, a caused turnover for Brynn Johnsen led to an unassisted goal for Hannah Gawne. Just over a minute later, Keitel added an unassisted goal for an 11-6 lead. Grace Hejeebu made three saves in goal for Messiah over the next four minutes before Abby Welchans had a shot saved by the Seahawks goalie. Hejeebu collected an additional save to keep the score 11-6 with one quarter remaining.

Fourth Quarter
Grace Pettitt opened the fourth quarter with a shot off the crossbar before hitting the post two minutes later. Annalise Keitel recovered the ground ball and Pettitt found Hayley Lettinga for a man-up goal to take a 12-6 lead. Pettitt had a free position shot saved before converting a free position attempt a minute later for a 13-6 lead with 9:53 to play. St. Mary's tallied a goal two minutes later before three minutes of back-and-forth play. The Falcons tallied a pair of goals with Alina Bernal-Clark connecting with Hayley Lettinga and Hannah Gawne connecting with Grace Pettitt for a 15-7 lead. The Seahawks scored a pair of goals in the final three minutes to give Messiah a 15-9 win.

Stats
Grace Pettitt led the Falcons with seven points on four goals and three assists. Hayley Lettinga tallied five goals while Hannah Gawne, Annalise Keitel, and Jordan Lewicki each added a pair. Lettinga tallied seven draw controls and two ground balls. Gawne added four draw controls with seven ground balls. Grace Hejeebu made 11 saves in goal for the Falcons.

Up Next
The Falcons return to Witmer Family Lacrosse stadium at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25 against Shenandoah University.\