FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The No. 17 Messiah Women's Lacrosse team traveled to the University of Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon to take on the Eagles. The Falcons held a slight 4-3 lead after the first before the Eagles took a 7-6 lead into halftime. Messiah outscored Mary Washington 5-0 in the third quarter to regain the lead at 11-7 before solidifying the 14-10 win with a 3-3 fourth quarter. Grace Pettitt led the Falcons with a career high seven goals and added three assists. Hayley Lettinga tallied three goals. Jordan Lewicki tallied a pair of goals and added an assist. Riley Lewicki tallied three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Grace Hejeebu totaled 11 saves in goal and led the Falcons with four ground balls.

Messiah will return to Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium on Wednesday, April 1, at 3:00 p.m. to open Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth play against No. 7 York College.

First Quarter
Hayley Lettinga fired an early shot that forced a save by the Mary Washington goalie before the teams traded possession. Brynn Johnsen then found Lettinga for the first goal of the game at 12:11. The Falcons then added a pair of man-up goals, first from Lettinga then from Hannah Gawne with an assist from Grace Pettitt to take a 3-0 lead about five minutes into play. Over the next three minutes, the Eagles tallied three of their own to level the score 3-3. Grace Hejeebu made a save in goal for Messiah before Pettitt converted on a free position attempt at the other end of the field to take a 4-3 lead. Hejeebu made a save late in the quarter to maintain the 4-3 lead into the second quarter.

Second Quarter
Jordan Lewicki tallied a goal from Grace Pettitt early in the second before Grace Hejeebu made a save in the cage. Pettitt then tallied a free position goal to extend the Messiah lead to 6-3. Alina Bernal-Clark had a shot blocked before the Eagles' goalie made a save on Pettitt's second attempt shot. After a Mary Washington timeout, the Eagles were able to score twice in a minute to cut the deficit to one at 6-5. With 5:29 to play in the first half, the Eagles scored the equalizing goal to bring the score to 6-6. Grace Pettitt fired a shot off the post and Hayley Lettinga had a shot saved before the Eagles found the back of the goal to take a 7-6 lead. Hannah Gawne had a last second free position shot but the Mary Washington goalie was able to make the save to give Mary Washington the 7-6 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter
Grace Hejeebu made an early save in the second half before Hannah Gawne connected with Grace Pettitt to notch the score 7-7. Hejeebu tallied a pair of saves before Pettitt found Hayley Lettinga for the 8-7 Messiah lead with 7:09 to play. Annalise Keitel connected with Pettitt for a goal and the 9-7 lead. Hejeebu added a pair of saves before Keitel connected with Jordan Lewicki for the 10-7 lead with 2:43 remaining in the third. Alina Bernal-Clark fired the only shot in the remaining time and tallied an unassisted goal to take an 11-7 lead into the final quarter.

Fourth Quarter
On the Falcons' first possession of the fourth quarter, Abby Welchans connected with Grace Pettitt for a goal two minutes into play. Grace Hejeebu made a save on a free position opportunity for the Eagles before Pettitt tallied an unassisted goal at the other end of the field. Annalise Keitel and Hayley Lettinga each had shots on goal saved by the Mary Washington goalie before Grace Pettitt tallied her third goal of the quarter to give Messiah a 14-7 lead with 10 minutes to play. Mary Washington added three goals to give Messiah the 14-10 win.

Stats
Grace Pettitt led the Falcons with a career high seven goals and added three assists. Hayley Lettinga tallied three goals. Jordan Lewicki tallied a pair of goals and added an assist. Riley Lewicki tallied three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Grace Hejeebu totaled 11 saves in goal and led the Falcons with four ground balls.

Up Next
Messiah will return to Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium on Wednesday, April 1, at 3:00 p.m. to open Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth play against No. 7 York College.