GRANTHAM, Pa. – On Saturday afternoon, the No. 15 Messiah Women's Lacrosse team used a dominant performance at both ends of the field to earn a 22-0 shutout against Eastern University at the Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium. The Falcons took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, highlighted by Grace Pettitt's record-breaking assist. Messiah took a 13-0 lead into halftime before adding nine goals across the final 30 minutes to earn the 22-0 shutout to move to 5-0 in conference play. Annalise Keitel led the Falcons with five goals. Dani Sauder and Grace Pettitt each tallied three goals and five assists. Hayley Lettinga added three goals while 10 different Falcons tallied goals. Lettinga added five draw controls with three caused turnovers and three ground balls. Addyson Wagman notched four ground balls and three draw controls.

The Falcons return to play on Wednesday, April 22 at 4:00 p.m. when they host Stevenson University for the final regular season home game.

First Quarter
The Messiah Falcons started the game with a pair of shots, with Kendall Bayley missing just high Abby Welchans having a shot saved by the Eastern goalie. With 11:40 on the clock, Grace Pettitt found Hayley Lettinga for the first goal of the game. With the assists, Grace Pettitt broke the program career record for assists, notching her 41st assist. Just 15 seconds later, Hannah Gawne won the draw control for Messiah and netted an unassisted goal to take a 2-0 lead. Four minutes of back-and-forth play lead to a caused turnover by Pettitt and a ground ball for Annalise Keitel. Kendall Bayley then scored an unassisted goal to give Messiah a 3-0 lead. The Falcons quickly extended their lead to 4-0 when Bayley connected with Pettitt for a goal. Pettitt found Addyson Wagman for a goal at 6:33 to take a 5-0 lead. Abby Welchans, Hayley Lettinga, and Sierra Simmons all had shots on goal saved before Annalise Keitel notched a goal at 2:41 for a 6-0 lead. Lettinga added a goal and Pettitt found Annalise Keitel late in the quarter to give Messiah an 8-0 lead.

Second Quarter
Annalise Keitel caused an early turnover in the second and scored an unassisted goal just 20 seconds into play. Grace Pettitt tallied a goal a minute later to give Messiah a 10-0 lead. Kendall Bayley and Hayley Lettinga each had shots saved by the goalie before Eastern fired a shot on goal that was saved by Grace Hejeebu. Pettitt fired a shot off the post before Kayla Arnold missed just wide. Dani Sauder tallied Messiah's 11th goal on a free position attempt with 9:24 to play. After an Eastern timeout, the Falcons and Eagles traded possession for nearly five minutes with the Falcons tallying five shots with three on goal from Arnold, Lettinga, and Rachel Marshall. With 4:27 to play, Dani Sauder connected with Sierra Simmons for a man-up goal. Just over a minute late, Sauder found Abby Welchans to give Messiah a 13-0 lead. The teams remained scoreless for the final three minutes, allowing Messiah to carry the 13-0 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter
Hayley Lettinga earned the opening draw control of the second half before Hannah Gawen tallied an unassisted goal. Lettinga and Dani Sauder each added unassisted goals as Messiah took a 16-0 lead with 11:43 to play. The Falcons outshot the Eagles 7-1 over the next seven minutes before Grace Pettitt found Annalise Keitel for the 17-0 lead. Dani Sauder connected with Pettitt and Keitel to give Messiah a 19-0 lead with one quarter remaining.

Fourth Quarter
The Falcons and Eagles traded possession in the opening five minutes of play before Grace Pettitt found Kayla Arnold for a man-up goal. Dani Sauder found Abby Welchans for a goal before Annalise Keitel found Suer to take a 22-0 lead with 6:15 to play. Grace Hejeebu made three saves in goal in the final three minutes to secure the 22-0 win.

Stats
Annalise Keitel led the Falcons with five goals. Dani Sauder and Grace Pettitt each tallied three goals and five assists. Hayley Lettinga added three goals while 10 different Falcons tallied goals. Lettinga added five draw controls with three caused turnovers and three ground balls. Addyson Wagman notched four ground balls and three draw controls.

Up Next
The Falcons return to play on Wednesday, April 22 at 4:00 p.m. when they host Stevenson University for the final regular season home game.