Seniors Lead The Way In 17-6 Home Finale Over Frostburg State
Senior Bethany Moskevitz again played well, helping the Falcons to their fifth win in six games.

Grantham, PA — A lengthy delay could not detract from an emotional pre-game ceremony at Anderson Field Thursday afternoon, as the Messiah College women’s lacrosse team sent its senior class off in style with a 17-6 win over visiting Frostburg State University.

Messiah (9-6) used a dominating first half to cruise to the win, playing through both the emotion of senior day and a hold up at the event’s outset: Frostburg State (8-8) was late to arrive after getting stuck in traffic due to an overturned tractor trailer.

Nevertheless, the Falcons made it a fitting conclusion to what most likely was the final home game for seniors Bethany Moskevitz, Kate Nesterwitz, Jessica VanHook and Kirstyn Wheeler. Pending post-season results, Messiah could host the MAC Tournament Championship in just over a week.

Knowing that is a mathematical improbability, Messiah head coach Heather Greer said that Thursday served as a just goodbye.

“After a long warm-up and a late start, we honored our seniors,” Greer said. “I think we were ready to play after that.”

Messiah’s play would prove Greer correct, as the team blasted 22 shots on the Bobcats over the game’s first 30 minutes, capturing a 12-3 lead at the half. FSU scored the game’s first goal just 38 seconds into play, but an ensuing 6-0 Falcons’ run quelled any party-crashing thoughts from the visitors. Junior Jackie Dando scored an unassisted goal at the 28:30 mark to start the push; Moskevitz and VanHook scored back-to-back goals just four minutes later.

Freshmen Megan Bovenzi and Kara Geiman added markers moments following, and Greer’s team was rolling.

Frostburg State scored two goals near the 20-minute mark to pull within a 12-5 score, but another Messiah run — this one encompassing both sides of the intermission —would put the game out of reach. Greer’s team led 17-3 with just over 11 minutes to play in the game, and Messiah’s senior quad had helped the team to its fifth win in six games.

“Today was most likely the last hurrah for our seniors on Anderson Field, and once again, all four of them had a very impressive game,” Greer said.

VanHook led the scoring pace for the Falcons, notching five goals off of just six shots. She added an assist as well. Moskevitz scored two goals while collecting three draw controls, while Nesterwitz scored one while scooping two ground balls.

Wheeler headed the defensive unit, causing a team-leading three turnovers while picking up a pair of ground balls.

“Bethany really has turned it on, especially in the second half of this season, and continues to lead our attack,” Greer said. “Kirstyn's hustle is just one of a kind. She pressures attackers so well whether she is pressuring them in the midfield or in low D. She always plays with that same kind of intensity and seems to never get beat.”

Freshman Kara Geiman scored four goals and had four assists, while she and junior Brianne Brennan won three draw controls.

Messiah won the overall ground ball count by a 25-13 margin, though the team did commit 18 turnovers — 14 of which occurred in the second half.     

“We are still having a significant amount of turnovers,” Greer said. “I think if we can clean that up we could really bring our level of play from good to great, and that is what we are continuing to pursue. It is hard to think of not having the seniors next year but the good news is that this year is not over. Our home games may have come to an end but our post-season is just about to begin and that is the exciting thing we are thinking about.”

The Falcons will face off against MAC foe King’s College Saturday afternoon in their final regular-season contest. That game will have no bearing on Messiah’s post-season fate, however, as the team is locked into the number three seed and will travel to Elizabethtown College next Wednesday for one of the MAC Tournament Semi-Finals. Game time for that event has yet to be announced.