Box Score

GRANTHAM, Pa. – Megan Murphy (Wilton, CT/Wilton) and Julika Blankenship (Crumpton, MD/Kent County) combined for seven goals and eight assists to lift eighth-ranked Gettysburg over Messiah 15-4 in non-conference women’s lacrosse action on Wednesday.

 Murphy, who led the Bullets (1-0) with a program-record 31 assists among her team-high 77 points last season, picked up where she left off in 2002, netting a hat trick and dishing out five assists to finish one point shy of her career-high point total.

 Blankenship scored four times and added three assists for a career-high seven points to help Gettysburg post its third consecutive season-opening win. Amy Farrell (Ambler, PA/Upper Dublin) added a hat trick while Liz Borucki (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) made nine saves on the day.

 Kathryn Hall scored twice for the Falcons (0-1), who were also playing for the first time in 2003.

 Fueled by an offensive outburst from Blankenship and an airtight defense, the Bullets built a 7-0 first-half lead and never looked back.

 Murphy put Gettysburg ahead to stay by converting a free-position opportunity just 30 seconds into the game. Blankenship followed with an unassisted goal at 1:33, then set up Farrell and Murphy to make it 4-0.

 Blankenship scored on a highlight-reel transition opportunity to push the lead to 5-0 at 15:12. Cassidy Zappacosta (Monkton, MD/Maryvale Prep) carried through the midfield and threaded a pass to Murphy on the left side of the goalmouth. Without breaking stride, Murphy fed a cutting Blankenship, who finished for a five-goal lead.

 Blankenship notched her fifth point in the opening 17 minutes by setting up the first of two goals from Kathryn Grassel (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) at 16:58. Murphy capped the 7-0 run with her second free-position goal at 22:04.

 Defensively, Borucki stopped the first five shots she faced on the afternoon as the Bullets held Messiah off the scoreboard until Kate Woods tallied an unassisted marker with 2:09 left in the half.

 After the break, Murphy handed out assists on Gettysburg’s first four goals to help the visitors build an 11-2 lead with 15:19 remaining. Murphy’s third assist in the sequence set up the first collegiate goal for freshman Ellie Shihadeh (Malvern, PA/Conestoga).

 In addition to her eight-point outburst, Murphy also collected a team-high six draw controls. Farrell also helped the Bullets control the tempo with five draw controls and a team-best six ground balls.

 Gettysburg returns to action on Wednesday, Mar. 12 with a pair of games in Florida. The Bullets will face Drew at 11 a.m. and Denison at 5 p.m.
 

Score by Half	1	2	-	F
#8 Gettysburg (1-0)	7	8	-	15
Messiah (0-1)	1	3	-	4

 
Goals:

Gettysburg: Julika Blankenship 4, Megan Murphy 3, Amy Farrell 3, Kathryn Grassel 2, Jacquie O’Connor, Ellie Shihadeh, Kathy Delauney.

Messiah: Kathryn Hall 2, Tamika Pinkney, Kate Woods.

Assists:

Gettysburg: Murphy 5, Blankenship 3, Katie Lowe.

Messiah: Shannan Finch.
 
Shots: Gettysburg 33, Messiah 18.

Ground Balls: Gettysburg 38, Messiah 30.

Goalies: Gettysburg (Liz Borucki – 60:00, 9 saves, 4 GA), Messiah (Marissa Thrall – 60:00, 9 saves, 15 GA).

Draw Controls: Gettysburg 15, Messiah 6.

Caused Turnovers: Gettysburg 8, Messiah 6.

Turnovers: Gettysburg 22, Messiah 17.

Fouls: Gettysburg 14, Messiah 11.

Free Position: Gettysburg 3 of 6, Messiah 0 of 5.

Attendance: 75.

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