All-America senior Katie Blair scored a pair of late goals and grabbed three key late draw controls, and junior Molly Daw added four scores as the University of Mary Washington women's lacrosse team downed Messiah University, 15-13, on Saturday afternoon at the Battleground. The Eagles, who improve to 3-5 on the season, also received three goals from Caeley Terapane.

The high scoring affair saw the visitors score the first two goals in the first five minutes. After a timeout, the Eagles responded, scoring the next four goals of the game. Terapane opened the UMW scoring at 9:01 on a Bridget Crowley assist, and Crowley knotted the score at 8:33 unassisted. Daw put the Eagles ahead with 7:42 to go in the first, and Abigail Fisher followed on a Blair assist with 4:28 left. After a Falcons score, Fisher added another with 43 seconds left, and UMW led, 5-3, after 15 minutes.

Once again, Messiah started the second strong with a pair of goals to tie the score, but UMW again responded. Victoria Mueller stopped the Falcon run at 9:01, and Blair added her first of the day with 4:26 left before halftime. 

Messiah ended the second with a goal and added four straight in the third to grab a 10-7 advantage. Terapane and Mueller scored to pull the Eagles to within 10-9, but Messiah answered with a pair to go up, 12-9. Terapane closed the third with a score on a Blair assist, setting the stage for a six-goal run that extended through the fourth. Daw scored twice to tie the score, and Blair put UMW ahead to stay with 8:09 remaining. Daw added another, and Blair netted her third with 6:01 left before the Falcons scored one late.

The Eagles led in shots, 33-25, and ground balls, 14-12. UMW goalkeeper Cailyn Tripp made eight saves in gaining the win.

UMW will return to action on Wednesday when the Eagles visit Roanoke College at 6:00 p.m.