BALTIMORE, Md. – Ted Oberg made 18 saves, while John Murdock and Nick Ricucci had three goals apiece to lead Messiah over Franklin & Marshall 12-8 in non-conference men's lacrosse action at Boys' Latin School in Baltimore.

The Falcons (1-3) scored five unanswered goals, including four to start the third quarter to take a 10-3 lead and never look back for their first win of the season.

Sean Oliver (Wilton, CT/Wilton) scored twice and dished out three assists for the Diplomats (3-1). Mark Hild (Denver, CO/Denver East) and Shane Brennan (West Chester, PA/Haverford School) each recorded two goals.

Messiah took a 1-0 lead, scoring the lone goal of the first quarter and added another at the start of the second quarter thanks to Ricucci tally from Jeff Ziegler.

F&M got on the board at the 10:23 mark on a Jeff Ritter (Watchung, NJ/Watchung Hills) goal off a feed from Oliver. The Falcons struck back, but a Hild, Oliver combination made it 3-2 with 9:30 left before halftime.

From there, Messiah tallied the next seven out of eight goals with three in the first half and four straight in the third quarter to take a commanding 10-3 lead.

The Diplomats rallied and netted four consecutive goals in 5:59, including two on man-up opportunities to end the third quarter and make it 10-7. Hild and Oliver had a goal and an assist during the run, while Brennan and Ron Bogdasarian (Fitchburg, MA/Groton) each scored.

The Falcons kept the lead and added two more goals in the fourth for a 12-8 final.

Chris Marcozzi (Springfield, PA/Malvern Prep) made seven saves in the loss and Jay Ridinger (Lititz, PA/Manheim Township) collected a team-high five ground balls.

F&M returns to action on Saturday against Washington & Lee at St. Paul's School in Baltimore. Game time is 1:00 p.m.

2008-03-08