SWARTHMORE, PA - Salisbury University's Jessica White scored twice and handed out an assist to lead the #4 nationally rank Sea Gulls to a 13-7 win over #15 Franklin & Marshall College in women's lacrosse at Swarthmore College's Clothier Field.

Playing on Swarthmore's artificial turf due to poor field conditions at F&M's Sponaugle-Williamson Field courtesy heavy rain leading up to the game, the Gulls took advantage of the neutral site as Sarah Slafkosky finished a feed from Nancy Bateman at 25:52 and Lynsey Bateman pounded home a goal at 21:20 for a quick 2-0 lead.

The Diplomats responded as Brenna Dolphin (Fr., Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy) netted an unassisted score at 18:56, but the Gulls closed out the half with unassisted scores by White (17:24) and Liz Funk (10:02) before Emily Dutch found White with an assist for a score with 1:36 remaining as Salisbury carried a 5-1 lead into the break.

In the second half, the Gulls continued the pressure as Erin McCarthy scored an unassisted tally at 29:47 before the Diplomats' Alexis O'Meara (Jr., Annapolis, MD/Severn School) ripped a blast past Gulls' goaltender Ali Goetz to pull Franklin & Marshall within 6-2 with 28:19 remaining on the clock.

However, Linda Ackerman scored an unassisted goal at 27:30 to push the lead out to five goals before Kiki Foster (So., Denver, CO/Kent Denver) finished a feed from O'Meara to make the score 7-3 with 20:30 to play.

The goal marked F&M's last until an unassisted tally by Kelly Cassels (Fr., Downingtown, PA/Great Valley) with 13:21 remaining as Slafkosky and Amber Stansbury scored at 19:38 and 16:01, respectively, to seal the win as the Gulls outscored F&M down the stretch to take the six goal victory.

Overall, Foster, Sloan Giampa (Fr., Cortlandt Manor, NY/Yorktown) and O'Meara tallied the Diplomats' remaining goals as the team falls to 0-3 all-time against Salisbury.

In goal, starter Leslie Staines (Fr., Villanova, PA/Radnor) recorded 14 saves with five goals allowed off 19 shots in the first half, while Kim Pleasants (Fr., Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) notched four saves with six goals allowed off 13 shots in 23:03 and Kamissa Mort (So., Ashton, MD/Sandy Spring) allowed two goals and record a save on three shots. For Salisbury, Goetz made 13 saves and allowed seven goals on 24 F&M shots.

Franklin & Marshall (0-1, 0-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on March 9 at Goucher College. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.

Score by Half 1-2 - Final
Salisbury (3-0) 5-8 - 13
Franklin & Marshall College (0-1) 1-6 - 7

Goals:
Franklin & Marshall: Kiki Foster (2), Alexis O'Meara (2), Kelly Cassels (1), Sloan Giampa (1), Brenna Dolphin (1)

Salisbury: Sarah Slafkosky (2), Jessica White (2), Linda Ackerman (2), Amber Stansbury (2), Liz Funk (2), Emily Dutch (1), Erin McCarthy (1), Lynsey Bateman (1)

Assists:
Franklin & Marshall: Alexis O'Meara (1), Brenna Dolphin (1)

Salisbury: Mary Bateman (2), Lynsey Bateman (2), Jessica White (1), Amanda Tack (1)

Shots: F&M 24, Salisbury 30
Goalies: F&M (Leslie Staines - 30 minutes, 14 saves, 5 goals/ Kim Pleasants - 23:03, 4 saves, 6 goals/ Kamissa Mort - 6:57, 1 save, 2 goals)
Salisbury (Ali Goetz - 60 minutes, 13 saves, 7 goals)