GLASSBORO, NJ - Alexis O'Meara (Jr., Annapolis, MD/Severn School) scored three goals and handed out an assist as the Franklin & Marshall women's lacrosse team defeated Rowan University 8-6 in non-conference action.
The Diplomats wasted little time in taking the lead as Brenna Dolphin (Fr., Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy) tallied an unassisted goal with 22:23 left in the first half to five F&M the lead for good. Kiki Foster (So., Denver, CO/Kent Denver) expanded the lead to 2-0 sixty-one seconds later as O'Meara found her in front of the cage for a score.
Rowan sliced the lead to one goal at the 18:13 mark as Katie Kline scored, but Gini Rollins (Fr., Baltimore, MD/McDonogh) finished a feed from Dolphin at the 16:30 mark to push the margin back to two goals at 3-1. Morgan Lang scored off a free-position shot for Rowan to move back to within a goal, but O'Meara scored a free-position goal at 5:05 and Rollins added an unassisted score with 2:32 left in the first half as F&M carried a 5-2 lead into the break.
Franklin & Marshall continued the onslaught to open the second half as Eileen Keever (So., Prospect Park, PA/Interboro) scored off a feed from Beverly Menghetti (Fr., Glen Mills, PA/Penncrest) with 23:55 left in the game and O'Meara converted on an assist from Kelly Cassels (Fr., Downingtown, PA/Great Valley) at 17:55 to take a 7-2 lead.
However, Keely O'Brien registered a score off a free-position shot at 16:49, and Kline scored 16 seconds later at 16:34 to trim F&M's lead back to 7-4. O'Meara added an unassisted score at 14:13 to keep the move the margin back to four goals at 8-4, but the Professors would make the game interesting down the stretch.
With 12:07 left, O'Brien scored on a free-position shot before Becky Peterson scored a free-position goal with 1:05 left on the clock as Rowan closed to within two goals but failed to overcome F&M.
Overall, the win improves F&M's record to 6-4 against Rowan as the Diplomats have defeated the Professors in four straight meetings between the two teams.
In goal, Kim Pleasants (Fr., Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) made nine saves on 22 shots for Franklin & Marshall, while Rowan's Desiree Capriotti stopped eight of 23 shots by F&M.
Franklin & Marshall will continue the season on April 29 at home versus #2 nationally ranked The College of New Jersey in non-conference action. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.
Score by Half 1-2 -- Final
Franklin & Marshall (9-6, 6-3 CC) 5-3 -- 8
Rowan (8-5) 2-4 -- 6
Goals:
Franklin & Marshall: Alexis O'Meara (3), Virginia Rollins (2), Kiki Foster (1), Brenna Dolphin (1), Eileen Keever (1)
Rowan: Katie Kline (2), Keeley O'Brien (2), Morgan Lang (1), Rebecca Peterson (1)
Assists:
Franklin & Marshall: Alexis O'Meara (1), Kelly Cassels (1), Brenna Dolphin (1), Beverly Menghetti (1)
Rowan: none
Shots: F&M 23, Rowan 22
Goalies: F&M (Kim Pleasants - 60 minutes, 9 saves, 22 shots, 6 goal allowed)
Rowan (Desiree Capriotti - 60 minutes, 8 saves, 23 shots, 8 goals allowed
