ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Tuesday, April 23, 2002

Messiah Survives Late Etown Rally, Defeats Blue Jays 16-15

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. --- Elizabethtown dropped a heartbreaker to Middle Atlantic Conference rival Messiah in the Blue Jays' final home game of 2002, as the visiting Falcons outgunned Etown in a high-scoring 16-15 contest. Messiah improves to 8-7 overall and 3-4 in the MAC with the win, while Etown falls to 4-8 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

Despite jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the opening ten minutes and never trailing in the game, Messiah could not shake the Blue Jays' tenacious comeback efforts. Etown never fell behind by more than four goals at any point during the game. Messiah pulled ahead 9-5 with 2:39 remaining in the first half, but Etown scored three unanswered goals in the next two minutes to go into halftime trailing 9-8.

Within the first ten minutes of the second half, Messiah pulled ahead by four again, 13-9. However, by 15:01 remaining, the Blue Jays had cut the lead to 13-11 on a Molly Walker (Columbia, MD/Glenela Country School) goal. Ally Edel (Bel Air, MD/John Carroll) cut Messiah's lead to 13-12 at 13:52, and a goal by Liz Fretz (Parkerford, PA/Owen J. Roberts) tied the game for the fist time at 12:50, 13-13.

Messiah pulled ahead again, and by the time the Falcons scored their final goal at 1:16 remaining, they held a 16-13 advantage. Fretz struck back for Etown with a goals at 1:01 remaining and another goal with 42 seconds left on the clock, but Etown could not close the one goal gap.

Fretz led the Blue Jays with nine goals scored, tying her season high set in Friday's 24-2 blowout of Hood. She has now scored 18 goals in her last two games. Fretz also had one assist against the Falcons. Edel scored two goals and had three assists, and Jen Manns (Wilmington, DE/Brandywine) scored two goals as well for the Blue Jays.

Walker had one goal for Etown and led the team with five assists. Also scoring a single goal for Etown was Dana White (Freeland, MD/Hereford).

Heather Greer (Carlisle, MA/Lexington Christian Academy) led Messiah with four goals scored.

Etown returns to action on the road Thursday, April 25 against the University of Scranton for a MAC game. Game time is 4:00 p.m.

At Elizabethtown, Pa.
Elizabethtown 16, Messiah 15
Messiah (8-7, 3-4)       9 7 — 16
Elizabethtown (4-8, 2-4) 8 7 — 15

Etown goals: Liz Fretz 9, Ally Edel 2, Jen Manns 2, Molly Walker 1, Dana White 1
Etown assists: Walker 5, Edel 3, Samantha Benton 1, Stephanie Boyle 1, Fretz 1
Etown saves: Kim Fegley 8, Melissa Olde 2
Messiah goals: Greer 4, Downton 3, Rounville 2, Wholen 2, Hall 2, Bassette 1
Messiah assists: Downton 3, Bluey 3, Greer 1, Wilkenson 1
Messiah saves: Barr 10