BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Mar. 30, 2011) - Sixteenth-ranked Messiah College (7-1, 4-0) used a string of nine straight first-half goals to pull away from Alvernia University (7-1, 4-1) and ended the Crusaders school-record seven game win streak with a 19-10 decision Wednesday afternoon in Middle Atlantic Conference women's lacrosse action at Schlager Memorial Field.

The Falcons hit paydirt early getting a Kara Geiman off the opening draw.  Alvernia answered with Alli Bainbridge (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove finished a pass from Sam Landis (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run), but Lizzy Keeney set off a streak of nine straight as the Falcons continued to win draws and turn them into goals.

Alvernia sophomore Alyssa Verrillo (North Wales, Pa./Archbishop Wood) stopped the bleeding with a free position goal at 10:15, but by that point it was 10-2 Messiah.  The Falcons closed the half with four of the last five for a comfortable 14-3 lead at the break.

Both teams scored a pair of goals over the first 10 minutes of the second half, and after a string of three straight put the Falcons up 19-5, Alvernia closed the game with the last five goals.

Bainbridge led the Crusaders with three tallies.  Keeney led the Falcons with four goals while Geiman and Cecilia Kjellman had two goals and three assists each.  Alvernia split time in net between starter Jenn Czarnecki (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Hubert) and Vicky Kearn (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) with the two combining for 11 saves.  Taylor Phillips stopped seven for Messiah.

Alvernia looks to get back to its winning ways against Wilkes this Saturday.

#16 Messiah 19, Alvernia 10