LANCASTER, PA -- Attackman Steve Welsh (Sr., Lewes, DE/Cape Henelopen) scored three goals and assisted on two others for five points to lead the Franklin & Marshall College men's lacrosse team to a 10-2 victory over Muhlenberg College in Centennial Conference action at Williamson Field.

The points raise Welsh's career scoring totals to 77 goals and 92 assists for 169 points as he surpassed Don Gervais '96 (90) for third place in assists at the College, and eclipsed Paul Friedman '75 (166) to move into a tie with Peter Bidstrup '86 (169) for fifth in points in Franklin & Marshall College men's lacrosse history.

The Diplomats opened the scoring with 3:56 left in the first period as Welsh fired an unassisted goal past Muhlenberg goalie Gavin Crescenzo for a 1-0 lead. Tommy Kehoe (Fr., Coraopolis, PA/Sewickley) added to the lead on the ensuing face-off as he went in and buried an unassisted goal at 3:47 for a 2-0 lead after one period of play.

Welsh scored again to open the second period as he netted another unassisted goal at 13:12 for a 3-0 lead. Muhlenberg's Galen Marsh cut the lead to a pair of goals with an unassisted score at 6:18, but Bobby Atkins (Fr., Concord, MA/Loomis Chaffee) put F&M back out in front by three with one second left in the first half with an unassisted goal for a 4-1 lead at intermission.

Cyrus Adams (So., Nashville, TN/Montgomery Bell) added to the lead at the 13:32 mark of the third period as he finished an assist from Welsh for a 5-2 lead. Muhlenberg's Justin Hollander pulled the Mules back to within two goals as he scored an unassisted goal at 5:22, but the Diplomats closed out the game with five unanswered goals for the 10-2 final score.

Franklin & Marshall started its run at the 4:16 mark of the third period as Welsh completed a hat-trick by converting on an assist from Colin Hanley (Sr., Davidsonville, MD/DeMatha) for a man-up goal and a 6-2 lead. Hanley finished out the scoring in the period by finding the back of the cage at 1:40 for a 7-2 lead.

Henry Kusjanovic (Jr., Armonk, NY/Byram Hills) and Sean Duffy (Jr., Springfield, PA/Archmere Academy) scored at 11:47 and 9:35 of the fourth period before Peter Moon (Fr., Durham, NC/Durham) finished a pass from Welsh at 5:33 to account for all of the game's scoring.

Overall, F&M out shot Muhlenberg 27-19 in the game and won 12-of-14 face-offs as the Diplomats dominated the game statistically from opening whistle to closing horn.

In goal, Mike Sartorius (Sr., Summit, NJ/Summit) recorded 11 saves in 54:30 to earn the win, while Cresczneo stopped 12 of F&M's shots.

Franklin & Marshall (7-1, 3-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the Centennial Conference season on April 16 at home versus Washington College. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.

SCORE BY PERIODS
Muhlenberg (6-4, 0-3 CC) 0-1-1-0 -- 2
Franklin & Marshall (7-1, 3-0 CC) 2-2-3-3 -- 10

Goals:
F&M - Steve Welsh (3), Colin Hanley (1), Henry Kusjanovic (1), Peter Moon (1), Sean Duffy (1), Bobby Atkins (1), Tommy Kehoe (1), Cyrus Adams (1)
MC - Galen Marsh (1), Justin Hollander (1)

Assists:
F&M - Steve Welsh (2), Colin Hanley (1)
MC - None

Goalie (Saves/Goals Allowed/Minutes)
F&M - Mike Sartorius (11/2/54:30); Will McIntire (0/0/5:30)
MC - Gavin Crescenzo (12/10/60)

Shots - F&M 27, MC 19

Ground Balls - F&M 20, MC 11

Face-Offs - F&M 11 of 15, MC 4 of 15

Extra man - F&M 1 for 3, MC 0 for 6

Attendance - 155