LANCASTER, PA - Brenna Dolphin (So., Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy) finished an assist from Alexis O'Meara (Sr., Millersville, MD/Severn School) with 5:53 left on the game clock for the winning score as the #11 ranked Franklin & Marshall Diplomats defeated #4 Gettysburg College 8-7 at Sponaugle-Williamson Field in Centennial Conference women's lacrosse action.

The win marks the first by F&M over Gettysburg since an 18-10 win on April 20, 1999. Further, the game marked a rematch of the 2003 and 2004 Centennial Conference title games as the Bullets defeated the Diplomats 8-6 in 2003 and 14-8 in 2004 in Gettysburg.

In addition, the loss marks Gettysburg's first in a Centennial Conference game since the Bullets fell 16-11 to Ursinus College on March 23, 2002 in Gettysburg, a string of 32 consecutive CC victories.

Tied 5-5 at halftime, the Diplomats jumped back out to the lead as Eileen Keever (Jr., Prospect Park, PA/Interboro) found a streaking Catherine Onnen (Fr., Lutherville, MD/St. Paul's School for Girls) who dumped a shot over the left shoulder of Gettysburg goalie Heather Kelley for a 6-5 lead with 25:20 to play.

The Bullets responded as Ellie Shihadeh finished a feed from Katie Lowe to knot the score at 6-6 with 20:23 left before Onnen put in a pass from Kiki Foster (Jr., Denver, CO/Kent Denver) at 8:12 to take a 7-6 lead.

Dolphin added to the lead 2:19 later as she fired home a pass from O'Meara to put the Diplomats in front two goals with over two minutes to play.

However, the Bullets fired back as Kathy Delauney scored off a free position shot with 21 seconds left on the game clock to pull Gettysburg to within one goal of tying the score and forcing overtime.

After winning the face-off, the Bullets set up their offense, but the F&M defense stiffened and held Gettysburg without a shot over the final 20 seconds to hold on for the one goal win.

In goal, Kamissa Mort (Jr., Ashton, MD/Sandy Spring) recorded eight saves on 24 Gettysburg shots to earn the win and improve to 2-0 on the season, while Kelley took the loss notching two saves on 12 F&M shots.

Overall, the Diplomats jumped out to a 2-0 lead to open the game as Kelly Cassels (So., Downingtown, PA/Great Valley) finished a pass from Onnen at 26:54 and Keever beat Kelley with a free position shot at 25:24.

Gettysburg tied the game as Katie Lowe netted an unassisted goal at 22:28 and assisted Quinn Dougherty at 16:09.

F&M retook the lead as Foster scored an unassisted goal at 11:08, but Gettysburg tacked on back-to-back scores for a 4-3 advantage as Cassidy Zappacosta converted a free-position attempt at 8:38 and Jenn Kelly scored off a Dougherty assist at 6:37.

Franklin & Marshall returned the favor over the next 2:11 as Foster assisted O'Meara at 5:19 and scored off a feed from Onnen at 4:26 for a 5-4 advantage before Gettysburg's Katie Hagan netted an unassisted score with 23 seconds left in the first half for a 5-5 tie at the break.

The key to the game was the Diplomats' defense as midfielder Allison O'Meara (Sr., Millersville, MD/Severn School) held Delauney, who entered the game with 21 goals, to just one shot on goal.

Offensively, Foster and Onnen finished with two goals and two assists each, while Alexis O'Meara tacked on a goal and an assist.

Historically, O'Meara's assist to Dolphin for the game-winner tied her with Lauren Petrella '94 for fourth in career assists (93) at the College and raised her career point total to 244 to surpass Sarah Reigner '99 and clinch fifth place in points at Franklin & Marshall as she now has 151-93-244.

Franklin & Marshall (3-2, 2-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on April 2 in Lancaster versus Ursinus College. Game time is set for 11:00 a.m.

Score by Half 1-2 - Final
#4 Gettysburg (6-2, 2-1 CC) 5-2 - 7
#11 Franklin & Marshall (3-2, 2-0 CC) 5-3 - 8

Goals:
F&M - Kiki Foster (2), Catherine Onnen (2), Alexis O'Meara (1), Kelly Cassels (1), Eileen Keever (1), Brenna Dolphin (1)
Gettysburg - Katie Lowe (1), Quinn Dougherty (1), Cassidy Zappacosta (1), Jenn Kelly (1), Katie Hagan (1), Ellie Shihadeh (1), Kathy Delauney (1)

Assists:
F&M - Catherine Onnen (2), Kiki Foster (2), Eileen Keever (1), Alexis O'Meara (1)
Gettysburg - Katie Lowe (2), Quinn Dougherty (1)

Goalies: F&M - Kamissa Mort (60 minutes, 4 saves, 7 GA)
Gettysburg (Heather Kelley - 60 minutes, 2 saves, 8 GA)

Shots - F&M 12, Gettysburg 24

Ground Balls - F&M 19, Gettysburg 25