Grantham, PA. 3/12/03. Messiah out shot the visiting Goucher College Gophers 40-16, but could muster only 8 goals against a stingy Gopher defense. Eight goals proved to be enough as the Falcons defense held the visitors to just three to post the 8-3 victory. Pipes, misses and great goalie play by Goucher keeper Reeves Craig kept the Gophers within 6 goals throughout.

Messiah opened the scoring at the 8:52 mark when attackmen Dan Videon found Jono Linebaugh for the games first goal. The Falcons would add a second just 32 second later as Alex Bitzer scored off a Reed Horanburg pass. Matt Wilson put Goucher on the board with an unassisted goal at the 5:29 mark when he found himself one on one with the goalie after a failed Falcon ride. Bitzer answered the goal for Messiah off Videon's second assist of the game to end the first quarter at 3-1.

The second quarter saw a lot of shooting but only one goal, as Bitzer scored an unassisted goal for his hat trick. The 4-1 Falcon advantage would hold for another 23:00 minutes, until Messiah scored back to back goals within the final 1:35 of the third quarter, building their lead to 6-1. Midfielders Linebaugh and Nat Pierce had the two goals, while Horanburg added another assist.

Kevin Dennstaedt scored his first of the contest with an unassisted tally at the 12:28 mark of the fourth, while Linebaugh found Horanburg at 7:39 to build an 8-1 advantage for the host Falcons. The visiting Gophers would score the game's final two goals of the sticks of James Clement and Brian Englehart, with John Hanley recording an assist.

Sophomore keeper Chris Gilbert made 6 saves while allowing 3 goals for the Falcons (2-1). Goucher goaltender Reeves Craig stopped 11, allowing 8.

Messiah will travel to Florida over spring break, with plans for a 4:00 game on Tuesday, March 18th, against preseason #17 Clarkson University.