CHESTER, Pa. – The No. 16 Messiah Women's Lacrosse team concluded regular season play on Saturday afternoon with a 12-7 win over Widener University. With the win, the Falcons close the regular season with a perfect 7-0 record in conference play. Widener held a 2-1 advantage after the first quarter before the Falcons were able to take a 6-5 lead heading into halftime. Messiah outscored Widner 4-0 in the third to take a 10-5 lead before the teams each added a pair in the fourth to give the Falcons the 12-7 win. Hayley Lettinga led the Falcons with six goals while Grace Pettitt added three goals and three assists. Hannah Gawne tallied seven draw controls, two caused turnovers, and four groundballs. Addyson Wagman added four caused turnovers, three groundballs, and two caused turnovers.

The Falcons will return to Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, when they host Widener for the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal.

First Quarter
Hayley Lettinga fired the first shot of the game, but had it saved by the Pride goalie. At the other end of the field Widener took a 1-0 lead at 12:15. The Falcons missed three shots before Widener found the back of the goal to extend their lead to 2-0 with 4:45 to play. Hayley Lettinga then tallied a man-up goal to put Messiah on the board. Annalise Keitel fired a shot on goal that was saved by the Widener goalie to keep the Pride up 2-1 heading into the second.

Second Quarter
The Falcons tallied four unanswered goals in the first five minutes of the second quarter to take a 5-2 lead. Dani Sauder found Annalise Keitel on the opening possession before Hayley Lettinga tallied an unassisted goal. Grace Pettitt had a shot saved before finding Lettinga to give Messiah a 4-2 lead. With 10:07 to play, Pettitt found Dani Sauder for the 5-2 lead. Widener tallied three goals in the next eight minutes to notch the score 5-5. Dani Sauder tallied a late free position goal to give Messiah a 6-5 lead into halftime.

Third Quarter
After the break, Hayley Lettinga earned the opening draw control and scored an unassisted goal. Hannah Gawne had a shot blocked, and a shot saved before Dani Sauder found Hayley Lettinga to give Messiah an 8-5 lead. Pettitt found Lettinga for a goal at 9:17 before tallying her own unassisted goal to give the Falcons a 10-5 lead with 7:36 to play in the third. Grace Hejeebu made a save in goal before Annalise Keitel, Grace Pettitt, and Hayley Lettinga each had shots on goal saved by the Pride goalie to end the third with Messiah holding the 10-5 lead.

Fourth Quarter
Annalise Keitel fired an early shot on goal that was saved by the Pride goalie before Grace Pettitt tallied a pair of unassisted goals to extend the Falcons lead to 12-5 with 12:30 to play. Widener tallied a pair of goals to bring the Falcon lead to 12-7 with 7:07 to play. Kendall Bayley had a shot saved before Pettitt had a pair of shots on goal saved as the Falcons held the 12-7 lead to the end.

Stats
Hayley Lettinga led the Falcons with six goals while Grace Pettitt added three goals and three assists. Hannah Gawne tallied seven draw controls, two caused turnovers, and four groundballs. Addyson Wagman added four caused turnovers, three groundballs, and two caused turnovers.

Up Next
The Falcons will return to Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, when they host Widener for the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal.