The University of Mary Washington women's lacrosse team dropped an 8-7 decision at #25 Messiah University on Saturday afternoon in Grantham, Pa. The Eagles slip to 4-1 on the season.

The Eagles opened the scoring at 10:36 in the first, as senior Molly Day scored on a Tori Mueller assist, but the home team scored the next three to close the first quarter with a 3-1 lead. 

UMW opened the scoring in the second on an Ashley Firesheets score assisted by Ava WIndham at 11:55 to draw to within 3-2, before Messiah netted another to return the margin to two. Mueller followed on an Anna Dube assist at 3:57, and, after another Falcons score, Sadie Laughlin capped the first half on a Daw assist with 51 second remaining.

The defenses tightened in the third quarter, with each team scoring one time. UMW's came from Windham on an Abigail Fisher assist with 3:43 left.

In the fourth, the teams traded four scores, with Mueller and Laughlin scoring unassisted, the latter with 1:50 remaining to draw the Eagles to within 8-7, which eventually became the final score.

Messiah led in shots, 29-19, as well as draw controls, 11-5. Allison Carolan made six saves in 37 minutes of action, while Cece Van Blenis recorded two in relief.

The Eagles will return to action on Tuesday, when they visit Rhodes College at 4:00 p.m.