GRANTHAM, Pa. – Eastern University Men's Lacrosse used a 12-2 run through the middle of the game to earn an important 23-13 MAC Commonwealth win at Messiah University. Nicholas Fanelli scored four goals and added seven assists to record his second-consecutive 11-point day, and the Eagles improve to 3-0 in the league.

Eastern jumped out to a 5-0 lead and led 6-3 at the end of the first quarter, but their lead stood at 6-5 with nine minutes to play in the half. The Falcons (8-4, 1-2) had the ball with a chance to tie the game, but a turnover and a quick transition gave the Eagles a chance to restart their attack. Stephen Berman scooped a ground ball in the Eastern end and flipped a pass behind the Messiah defense. Christopher Fanelli caught the ball on the doorstep and scored with an overhand shot from the crease for a 7-5 lead.

Four minutes later, Jason Poole scored is third goal of the evening on a drive down the right alley. Poole scored a career-high four goals and has eight goals since moving into the starting line-up two games ago. Christopher Fanelli set up Porter for a step-down shot and a 9-5 lead with three minutes to play in the half. The Falcons answered with a goal at the two minute mark, but the Eagles responded with two more. Poole finished on the crease off a pass from Nicholas Fanelli with 1:21 on the clock and Porter finished his third on a man-up chance from Gavin Stark with 20 seconds left for an 11-6 halftime lead.

Ethan Myers made seven of his 12 saves in the second quarter, and the Eagles had a 29-21 edge in first-half shots.

Throughout the halftime break, Head Coach Kevin Wallace kept on his players to start quickly in the third.

"We were going to put them on the line, have them do high knees and butt-kicks," Wallace joked. "Seriously though, we spent the halftime talking about coming out strong."

Through the year, the third quarter has been an issue in spots. Coming in the Eagles had been outscored 41-29 in the frame, but the third was particularly perilous last Saturday when Widener scored eight.

The Eagles scored quickly after an early transition exchange went their way. The Falcons stole an Eastern pass on the crease, but Nicholas Fanelli was eager in the ride and ripped a ball free and found Porter for a shot on the doorstep. Patrick McClain won the ensuing faceoff and fed Nicholas Fanelli for a 13-6 lead. McClain was 20-of-32 at the X and gathered 11 ground balls.

Anthony Firmani won the next draw, and the Eagles scored a third goal with a Nicholas Fanelli finish from his brother with 13:43 on the clock. Though Myers ran the length of the field for a shot on goal and then had to sprint back to poke a ball loose in transition, neither team scored until Messiah scored with 8:19 to cut the Eastern edge to 14-7. The Eagles, however, had a quick response. This time it was Christoper Fanelli finishing from his older brother with 7:25 on the clock.

Nicholas Fanelli, Connor Bachman, and Porter scored the final Eastern goals of the therefor an 11-goal edge. Messiah scored their second of the third quarter on a loose ball with two seconds left. The Eagles heeded their coach's warning and forced eight Messiah turnovers in the period and had an 18-6 edge in third quarter shots.

Both teams scored five goals in the fourth quarter. Twice Messiah cut the Eastern lead to eight, but each time the Eagles had an answer. Bachman, Nick Litzenberger, Christopher Fanelli, Lucas Trudel, and Dan Divita all scored in the final frame.

Wallace pointed to the play of Nathan Gilbert who finished the day with five caused turnovers and a pair of ground balls while working against Messiah's top scorer.

With his seven-assist day Nicholas Fanelli has 96 for his career. He trails Chris Farrar by two and David Darling by eight.

The Eagles (6-6, 3-0) will return to Central Pennsylvania next Wednesday for a game at Lebanon Valley next Wednesday before hosting York on April 15. Eastern, York, and Stevenson all remain unbeaten in MAC Commonwealth play.