FREDERICK, Md. – The No. 15 Messiah Women's Lacrosse team cruised to a 20-1 victory over Hood College on Wednesday night. The Falcons scored six in the first quarter before outscoring Hood 5-1 in the second to hold an 11-1 lead at the half. Messiah added nine goals in the second half while keeping the Blazers scoreless to secure the 20-1 win. Hayley Lettinga led the Falcons with six goals while Grace Pettitt tallied five goals and five assists. Annalise Keitel added four goals and a pair of assists. Addyson Wagman collected seven draw controls while Hannah Gawne added five. Grace Hejeebu made three saves in goal for the Falcons.

The Falcons return to action on Saturday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m. when they host the Eastern University Eagles on Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium.

First Quarter
Messiah jumped to a 2-0 lead in the opening five minutes after goals from Grace Pettitt and Hayley Lettinga. After Lettinga missed a shot just wide, the Falcons recovered the ball and Pettitt found Annalise Keitel for the third Messiah goal. After trading possession for three minutes, Keitel found Lettinga for a goal before Addyson Wagman recovered the draw control and Hannah Gawne found Pettitt to give Messiah a 5-0 lead. Abby Welchans had a shot on goal saved before Pettitt found Kendall Bayley to give the Falcons a 6-0 lead that they would carry into the second quarter.

Second Quarter
The Falcons were off to a slower start in the second before Hayley Lettinga tallied an unassisted goal at 13:26. Kendall Bayley had a shot on goal saved before 4:30 minutes of back-and-forth play in the midfield. With 8:30 remaining in the half, Grace Pettitt found Hayley Lettinga to bring the Messiah lead to 8-0. The Blazers missed a pair of shots wide before Grace Hejeebu made a save in goal. Grace Pettitt tallied a man-up goal at 6:13 before finding Annalise Keitel on the next possession to extend the lead to 10-0. After a missed shot from the Falcons, the Blazers found the back of the net for a 10-1 score. Grace Pettitt tallied a late man-down goal to carry an 11-1 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter
Grace Hejeebu made an early save in goal before the Falcons tallied a pair with Dani Sauder finding Hayley Lettinga then Annalise Keitel to give the Falcons a 13-1 lead with 10:52 to play. Sauder and Lettinga had shots on goal saved before Lettinga and Grace Pettitt each added unassisted tallied for a 15-10 lead with 5:10 to play in the third. Sauder found Keitel to take a 16-1 lead that would hold into the final quarter.

Fourth Quarter
After the Blazers opened the fourth with possession, Naomi Doll caused a timeout and recovered the ground ball to give Messiah possession. Kendall Bayley tallied an unassisted goal at 13:28 before back-and-forth play began between the Falcons and the Blazers. After a caused turnover from Addyson Wagman and ground ball pickup, Wagman ran a successful give and go with Grace Pettitt to give Messiah the 18-1 lead. Two minutes later Sierra Simmons tallied an unassisted goal for a 19-1 lead. With :43 seconds to play, Alison Henchen scored a man-up free position goal to give Messiah the 20-1 lead that they would hold as time expired.

Stats
Hayley Lettinga led the Falcons with six goals while Grace Pettitt tallied five goals and five assists. Annalise Keitel added four goals and a pair of assists. Addyson Wagman collected seven draw controls while Hannah Gawne added five. Grace Hejeebu made three saves in goal for the Falcons.

Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Saturday, April 18 at 1:00 p.m. when they host the Eastern University Eagles on Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium.