Buena Vista, VA - The Southern Virginia men's lacrosse team hosted the Messiah University Falcons at Knights Stadium for a non-conference matchup. The Falcons proved to be one of the Knights' fiercest opponents in the early season, ultimately defeating Southern Virginia 9-21.

The Falcons swiftly scored within the first minute to take an early lead. However, the Knights matched the Falcons' pace in the initial five minutes, courtesy of goals from Zak Sullivan and Clay Haacke, the latter marking his first of three goals for the day.
 
The Falcons used a run of 5 consecutive goals to put themselves in control by the end of the first quarter, a lead they would never relinquish. Jace Lightfoot, who was starting his 7th consecutive game for the Knights in his freshman campaign, stood on his head in the second quarter, registering 8 of his 16 total saves. But it wouldn't be enough for the Knights to cut into the lead as the Falcons would extend their advantage to 12-3 before the halftime break.
 
The second half saw the Knights come out swinging as Clay Haacke used a nice solo effort to get the Knights off and running. Porter Wells also responded when he screamed a shot past Brock Roe of Messiah from fifteen yards out, it was the Knights' second consecutive goal. Courtesy of a dominant performance in face-offs from Jayden Arnold, who went 19-27, the Knights had multiple opportunities to cut the Falcons lead in half. This included a shot at an open net by Clay Haacke, but the Falcons recovered well and staved off the Knights attack.
 
The Falcons used a 4-0 run at the end of the 3rd quarter to keep the game out of reach. The Knights played tough in the final frame, scoring 4 goals, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Clay Haacke would add one more in the 4th to complete a late hat-trick and increase his goal total to 10 on the season. Jayden Arnold also added to his stellar day in face-offs with a goal of his own, his first of the year.
 
The Knights will look to bounce back this Saturday as they face their first conference opponent, Piedmont, at 1:00 PM in Demorest, GA. It'll be the first of two games on their Georgia road trip, they'll face Berry College on Tuesday before returning home to host Brevard College next Saturday, March 23rd.
 
For the most up-to-date details and information on the team, follow @knight_mlax or visit knightathletics.com for live stats and streaming options.