Diplomats Tabbed Fourth in Preseason

BALTIMORE – Franklin & Marshall's women's lacrosse team is ranked fourth in the nation according to Lacrosse Magazine's preseason poll. The two-time NCAA Division III National Champions have played on the NCAA's championship weekend in each of the past four years.

Lacrosse Magazine slotted Hamilton, a runner-up in 2010, as the preseason No. 1 in NCAA Division III women. As new powerhouses in Division III Women's Lacrosse, Franklin & Marshall and Hamilton have developed an intense rivalry over the past several seasons. Hamilton upset the defending champion Diplomats in the 2008 title game before F&M defeated the Continentals in the 2009 NCAA Semifinals en route to the 2009 NCAA crown. Last year, Hamilton halted the Diplomats repeat hoped in the semis before falling to Salisbury in the championship tilt. The Diplomats lead the series 3-2.  

On the heels of their first NCAA championship, Salisbury is second in the poll followed by The College of New Jersey. The Diplomats Centennial Conference (CC) rival, Gettysburg, sits fifth in the preseason.

Franklin & Marshall has appeared in the NCAA Division III Championship tournament 13 times and won 10 conference championships, including four-straight CC titles. The Diplomats have produced a bevy of national honors, including 54 All-America honors, six attack of the year awards, four coach of the year awards, three goalie of the year honors and produced both a midfielder and defender of the year.