The University of Mary Washington women's lacrosse team dropped a 14-10 decision to visiting 17th ranked Messiah University on Saturday afternoon at the Battleground. The Eagles slip to 5-5 on the season.

The Falcons opened with three straight goals to open the game, but the Eagles knotted the score with three straight of their own. Sadie Laughlin scored a player down to open the scoring, and was followed by Anna Dube at 8:57, and Abigail Fisher, on an Ashley Firesheets assist, at 7:38. Messiah scored again to close the first with a 4-3 advantage.

Messiah scored a pair of goals to open the second, but UMW roared back with four straight to take a 7-6 lead to halftime. Fisher opened the run at 9:03, and Molly Ryan Gates followed on an Ava Windham assist at 8:22. WIndham then added one of her own at 5:29, and Firesheets scored on a Laughlin pass at 36 seconds left to give UMW the lead.

The decisive third quarter saw the Falcons outscore the Eagles, 5-0. Messiah added three more to open the fourth, before Dube scored with 6:30 left to start a 3-0 Eagle run to close the game. Firesheets scored on a Dube assist at 4:52, and Laughlin capped the scoring on a Fisher pass in the closing seconds.

Messiah led in shots, 30-25, and held a 20-19 ground ball advantage. UMW goalkeeper Cece Van Blenis nine saves on the day.

The Eagles will be back in action on Wednesday, when they visit St. Mary's College at 7:00 p.m.