CHESTER, Pa. (Apr. 25, 2017) – The Widener University men's lacrosse team fell in a pivotal Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth matchup to Messiah by a 12-8 score at a rain-soaked Leslie C. Quick Stadium on Tuesday evening.
 
Widener, which honored its four-member senior class prior to the contest, got on the board first when freshman Paz Gismondi (West Deptford, N.J.) unleashed a shot that found the back of the net just 1:06 into the contest. The Falcons responded with two straight markers, but Widener regained the lead by closing the quarter with three straight markers. Senior Chris Sanchez (Flanders, N.J.) and Tyler Schulte (Southampton, N.J.) each scored during the hot stretch to give the hosts a 4-2 lead at the end of the opening frame.
 
The visitors sliced away at the deficit in the second quarter and evened the score by getting back-to-back goals from Dylan Gillisse and Joseph Franken. Widener, however, would have the lead at recess by getting a highlight goal from sophomore Brady Franks (State College, Pa.) which was set up by Schulte.
 
With the rain picking up and reaching pouring levels to start the second half, Messiah came out firing and gained a wave of momentum by going on a pair of 3-0 runs to take control of the contest. Schulte was able to break up the first streak by scoring his second marker of the game which triggered a Messiah penalty directly after the strike, but the Falcons killed it off and took a 10-6 advantage when Hunter Bellows took a pass from Gillisse with 28 seconds remaining in the frame. The deficit would prove to be too much for the Pride to overcome.
 
Messiah (9-4, MAC Commonwealth 7-0) got a pair of four-point performances from Joseph Franken and Justin Bradley. Franken scored four goals, while Bradley netted three and tallied an assist. Brian Doron scooped up five ground balls and caused a turnover defensively, and Sam Stengel made 12 saves.
 
Schulte and Gismondi also contributed four-point efforts to lead the way for Widener, which won 16 of the 22 faceoffs to generate extra scoring chances. Schulte had three goals and one assist, while Gismondi netted two goals and added a pair of helpers. Sophomores Bryan Facciani (Pasadena, Md.) and Shane Cook (Lincoln, Pa.) each caused three turnovers on the defensive end, and Cook also picked up six ground balls. Classmate Matt Horton (Emmaus, Pa.) turned away 14 shots and made double-digit saves for the 10th time this season.
 
Widener (7-7, MAC Commonwealth 4-3), which has already qualified for the upcoming conference tournament, will wrap up the regular season with another pivotal matchup when it travels to face Lycoming on Saturday, Apr. 29 at 1:00 p.m. The Pride will either earn the right to host the first-round game next Monday night with a win or will have to travel to Lycoming again to play the postseason contest on the same day with a setback.