Box Score OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson University freshman goalie Mack Ferguson stopped 16 shots, but No. 11 Messiah College doubled up the Mustangs 16-8 in MAC Commonwealth women's lacrosse Saturday afternoon at Mustang Stadium. The game was a rematch of the last three MAC Commonwealth championship games.
Stevenson (3-5, 0-1 MAC Commonwealth) staked itself to a 1-0 lead 1:32 into the contest following senior Mackenzie Reese's first goal of the game and 11th of the season. Claire Stikeleather tied the game for the Falcons (5-2, 1-0 MAC Commonwealth) at the 23:11 mark, but goals 17 seconds apart for Stevenson's Olivia Monteiro and Kiely Bunce gave the hosts a 3-1 lead with 18:39 to go in the first half.
Messiah closed the first half by scoring seven straight goals, taking an 8-3 lead with 1:56 to go before halftime on a goal by Ida Ehrhardt. The Falcons extended their lead to 9-3 early in the second half before Monteiro stopped Stevenson's scoring drought off an assist from Reese with 28:02 to play that made it 9-4.
The Falcons scored three straight goals to take a 12-4 lead with 19:53 left on an Allie Colson tally. Stevenson pulled within seven twice, on a Brady Heher goal with 17:44 left and a Bunce goal with 4:05 remaining in the contest, but got no closer.
For Ferguson, her 16 saves were a career high and were the most in a game by a Mustang goalie since Jenny Schroeder had 16 in a loss to Gettysburg on March 12, 2012. The Falcons outshot Stevenson 38-20 and won 14-of-26 draw controls on the afternoon. Messiah's Alexa Dipeso went the first 55:55 in goal and made five saves, while Amber Orner made one save over the final 4:05.
Reese led Stevenson with two goals and two assists, while Bunce notched two goals and an assist. Monteiro scored twice and also recorded a pair of caused turnovers, while Heher and sophomore Dana Stevens each had single goals. Freshman Mallory Davila and junior Jamie Bittner each had a pair of caused turnovers.
Stevenson returns to action Wednesday afternoon when it travels to Lebanon Valley College for a 4:00 MAC Commonwealth contest.
