BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Mar. 31, 2009) - Messiah College (5-3, 4-0) scored 11 goals in the first half and added 10 more in the second in a 21-11 win over Alvernia University (6-2, 2-2) Tuesday afternoon in a Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference women's lacrosse game at Sovereign Bank Sports Park.

Alvernia defended the first Messiah possession and tallied a pair of quick goals, both from sophomore Felicia Sippel (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert) to take a 2-0 lead four minutes into play.  Messiah struck back with five straight goals for a 5-2 lead and scored the final goal of the half on a free position shot 30 seconds before halftime for an 11-7 lead at the break.

The Falcons, who along with Etown are the only two undefeated teams in conference play, methodically took control with the first six goals of the second half stretched over 10 minutes.  Alvernia sophomore Jamie Murtha (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) stopped the streak with her eighth goal of the season, but Messiah kept a comfortable margin the rest of the way.

Alvernia freshman Jenn Czarnecki (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert) made nine saves in 49 minutes.  Messiah's Andrea Thomas made four saves for the Falcons.  Messiah got goals from seven different players led by Nikki Lawrence who netted five.

Alvernia will take a break from conference play when it hosts Cedar Crest on Thursday.

Messiah 21, Alvernia 11