LANCASTER, PA - Washington & Lee's Amanda Strickler scored three goals, including the game-winner with 4:06 remaining in the second half, and handed out an assist as the #13 ranked Generals overcame a four goal second half deficit to overcome #16 Franklin & Marshall College 10-9 in women's lacrosse.
Leading 7-3 following a goal off a free position shot by Kelly Cassels (Fr., Downingtown, PA/Great Valley) with 28:01 to play. The score marked F&M's last until Alexis O'Meara (Jr., Annapolis, MD/Severn School) notched a free-position goal at 19:37 to make the score 8-6 as the Generals scored three goals to close to within 7-6.
Following Cassels goal, Washington & Lee fired back as Kelly Taffe scored off a Strickler assist at the 26:34 mark to pull within 7-5. Rachel Wallick closed the gap to 7-6 with an unassisted tally at 25:30 before Kate Lester received a pass and spun past her defender for a goal at 24:22 to move within 7-6.
Following O'Meara's goal at 19:37 to give F&M a two goal cushion, the Generals countered with three straight scores to take the lead for good.
At 11:16, Strickler recorded a marker before Erin Rathbone finished a feed from Lee Wheeler at 10:06 to knot the score at 8-8.
Washington & Lee took the lead with 7:48 to play as Taffe split the Diplomats' defense for a rising shot which sailed over goalie Kim Pleasants (Fr., Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) shoulder for a 9-8 margin. Strickler tacked on the game winner at 4:06 with a low shot that went just inside the post for a 10-8 lead.
F&M attempted a comeback as Cassels scored with 1:45 remaining on the clock, but an offensive foul at :59.3 on their next possession sealed the loss for the Diplomats.
Overall, Cassels finished with three goals, while O'Meara tallied two goals and two asissts. Kiki Foster (So., Denver, CO/Kent Denver), Allison O'Meara (Jr., Annapolis, MD/Severn School) and Beverly Menghetti (Fr., Glen Mills, PA/Penncrest) each added a goal, Brenna Dolphin (Fr., Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy) tallied a goal and an assist and Eileen Keever (So., Prospect Park, PA/Interboro) chipped in an assist to round out the F&M scorers.
For W&L, Taffe finished with two goals and an assist, Lester tallied two goals, Wheeler recorded a goal and an assist and Rathbone netted a goal to support Strickler's three goals and an assist.
In net, F&M27s Kim Pleasants (Fr., Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) made three saves on 13 shots on goal with seven goals allowed and Leslie Staines (Fr., Villanova, PA/Radnor) made two saves on five shots on goal with three goals permitted. For W&L, Joanna Perini made 12 saves on 30 shots.
Franklin & Marshall (1-2, 0-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on March 17 in St. Petersburg, Florida versus William Smith. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m.
Score by Half 1-2 - Final
Washington & Lee (5-1) 3-7 -- 10
Franklin & Marshall (1-2) 6-3 - 9
Goals:
Franklin & Marshall: Kelly Cassels (3), Alexis O'Meara (2), Kiki Foster (1), Allison O'Meara (1), Brenna Dolphin (1), Beverly Menghetti (1)
W&L: Amanda Strickler (3), Kelly Taffe (2), Kate Lester (2), Lee Wheeler (1), Erin Rathbone (1), Rachel Wallick (1)
Assists:
Franklin & Marshall: Alexis O'Meara (2), Brenna Dolphin (1), Eileen Keever (1)
W&L: Amanda Strickler (1), Kelly Taffe (1), Lee Wheeler (1)
Shots: F&M 30, W&L 18
Goalies: F&M (Kim Pleasants - 50 minutes, 3 saves, 7 goals/ Leslie Staines - 10 minutes, 2 saves, 3 goals)
W&L (Joanna Perini - 60 minutes, 12 saves, 9 goals allowed)
