The University of Mary Washington field hockey team led throughout much of the action, but fell to 13th ranked Messiah College on Tuesday at the Battleground, 3-2. UMW slips to 8-3 on the season.
The Eagles opened the scoring with 26:51 remaining in the first half, as sophomore Christine Loehr scored an unassisted tally after a scramble in the circle. The Falcons scored with 14:20 remaining on a penalty stroke by Becky Ely, but the Eagles again answered with a score from Haley Kane with 8:52 left in the half. The Eagles carried their 2-1 lead to halftime.
In the second half, Messiah tied the score on a shot from the right side of the circle from Carissa Gehman with eight minutes elapsed. The score stood tied at two until the Falcons scored the eventual game winner with 12:44 left on a goal from Ely on a deflection in a scramble in front of the cage.
The Falcons led in shots, 17-5, and in penalty corners, 5-2. Sophomore goalie Megan McLaughlin made 10 saves for the Eagles, while Loehr added a defensive save. Carly Day had three stops for Messiah.
The Eagles will return to action on Saturday by hosting Wesley College at 1:00 p.m. in the Capital Athletic Conference opener for both schools.