Boxscore

GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Manhattanville women's lacrosse team had their season-opening conference winning streak halted at three on Saturday afternoon as Messiah College, ranked 16th in the latest IWLCA Div. III National poll, defeated the Valiants by a 25-8 score in a Middle Atlantic Conference contest at Anderson Field.

The high goal scorer actually resided on the Manhattanville sideline on Saturday, as freshman Casandra Honovich (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas) continued her excellent rookie season with six tallies to give her 23 through five contests. Senior Darby Webber (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) also had a great game with four assists, but the remainder of the Valiant roster combined for just two goals and a potent Messiah offense wore down the Valiant defense all afternoon long.

For Messiah, Cecilia Kjellman and Megan Bovenzi led the team with five goals apiece, while Kjellman also added three assists for a game-high eight points. Kara Geiman had seven points (three goals, four assists) and Rachel Dirksen (four goals, one assist) added five as well for the home team. For the game, Messiah held a 49-14 edge in shots and a 28-8 edge in draw controls to establish a distinct possession advantage.

Manhattanville fell behind early against the nationally ranked Falcons, as Messiah scored eight times in the first 8:19 of the contest to take an early lead. The Valiants responded with four straight goals, as senior Kristy Guichard (Melville, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) netted her second of the year and then Honovich scored three straight goals – all assisted by Webber – to get the visitors back within five at 9-4.

But after the two teams traded goals, Messiah went on a 6-0 run to regain control of the game up by 10 (15-5) late in the first half. Honovich scored two more tallies late in the frame for Manhattanville, but the Valiants still went into halftime on the wrong side of a 16-7 score.

The second half did not bring any relief to a very busy Valiant defensive unit, as the Falcons outscored the Valiants by a 9-1 margin in the final 30 minutes of play.

Senior Kirstin Betsill (Parkton, Md./Hereford) had an eventful day in goal for the Valiants, making 13 saves on 38 shots in suffering her second loss of the year. Messiah's Taylor Phillips turned aside 3 of 11 shots to earn the win.

Manhattanville (3-2, 3-1 MAC) will continue MAC play on Thursday, as the Valiants remain on the road to take on Eastern University at 4 p.m. in St. Davids, Pa. Messiah (6-1, 3-0 MAC) will take on Alvernia University on Wednesday at 4 p.m.