PUNTA GORDA, Fla.  In a tough match-up against the nation's No. 12 team, the unranked Whitman Blues weren't able to muster up enough fire power to topple Messiah (Pa.) College, dropping a 16-2 decision to the Falcons in non-conference women's lacrosse action at the 2018 SpringFling tournament.

Playing a nationally-ranked program for the first time, Whitman (1-4) scored once in each half against a Falcons (4-2) team that counts its only losses of the season against the Nos. 1 and 8 teams in the country.

Olivia Engle's goal at the 23:34 mark ended a three-goal Messiah run early in first-half action, but Messiah would score the next 10 goals to enter the halftime break with a 13-1 lead.

Whitman's Ali Pope, at the 17:46 mark, scored the first goal of the second half but the Blues would register only one more shot on goal after Pope's tally.

The final game of the Blues' visit to Florida will be Sunday against Hendrix (Ark.) College.