LANCASTER, PA - Kelly Cassels (Jr., Downingtown, PA/Great Valley) scored two goals and handed out two assists as the #13 ranked Franklin & Marshall College women's lacrosse team downed #12 Washington & Lee University 13-10 at Sponaugle-Williamson Field in the Diplomats' season opener.

The win snaps a two-game losing streak to the Generals (3-2, 2-0 ODAC), including a 10-9 loss to W&L on March 5, 2005 in Lancaster, and ups the Diplomats record to 5-3 all-time against Washington & Lee.

Franklin & Marshall never trailed in the game as Cassels opened the scoring off an assist from Catherine Onnen (So., Lutherville, MD/St. Paul's School for Girls) at the 25:27 mark of the first half. The lead ballooned to 4-0 with a trio of unassisted goals as Sarah Meisenberg (Fr., Severna Park, MD/Severn) scored at 24:16, Sloan Giampa (Jr., Cortlandt Manor, NY/Yorktown) buried a shot at 19:40 and Brenna Dolphin (Jr., Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy) scored at 16:17.

Washington & Lee cut into the lead at 14:07 as Amanda Strickler converted on a free position shot, but Meisenberg answered at 9:10 with a free position goal to keep the lead at four goals.

The teams traded goals as Onnen scored off an assist from Cassels at 7:57 before W&L's Avery Lovejoy finished a pass from Louis Feve at 5:23. Cassels and the Generals' Kate Lester exchanged unassisted goals at 3:32 and 3:20, respectively, before Jen Pritchard (Fr., Media, PA/Penncrest) scored on a free position shot with 38 seconds left in the half for an 8-3 F&M lead entering halftime.

The key to the Diplomats lead was the play of goalie Kamissa Mort (Sr., Ashton, MD/Sandy Spring) who stopped eight shots in the first half and 13 in the game.

The teams continued to trade goals to open the second half as Shannon Summers (Fr., North Wales, PA/Hill School) and W&L's Megan Slosson scored unassisted goals at 29:16 and 28:29, respectively. Onnen finished a pass from Cassels at 27:23 to put F&M's lead at six goals (10-4), but the Generals charged back as Louisa Feve and Kate Lester netted unassisted goals at 23:07 and 21:31 and Kelly Evans converted on a pass from Kelsi Robinson at 14:25 to pull Washington & Lee to within 10-7.

Pritchard stopped the run with a free position goal at 13:31 for the game-winning goal, but Kate Corr tallied a free position goal at 12:25 to set the score at 11-8.

Kiki Foster (Sr., Denver, CO/Kent Denver) secured the win for the Diplomats as she scored unassisted at 11:44 and converted on a free position shot at 7:49 to give Franklin & Marshall a 13-8 lead.

Mallory Lobbiser scored on a free position shot at 4:36 and Christine Bender netted an unassisted goal with 25 seconds to play, but the Diplomats held on for the three-goal victory.

In goal, Mort made 13 saves in 60 minutes to earn the win, while W&L starting goalie Sarah Tilbor took the loss allowing 10 goals with nine saves in 36:53. Ali Hillyard finished the game for the Generals allowing three goals with four saves in 23:07

Franklin & Marshall (1-0, 0-0 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on March 14 in West Palm Beach, Florida versus William Smith College. Game time is set for noon.

Score by Half 1-2 - Final
Washington & Lee (3-2) 3-7 - 10
Franklin & Marshall (1-0) 8-5 - 13

Goals:
Franklin & Marshall: Kelly Cassels (2), Catherine Onnen (2), Sarah Meisenberg (2), Jen Pritchard (2), Kiki Foster (2), Shannon Summers (1), Sloan Giampa (1), Brenna Dolphin (1)
W&L: Kate Lester (2), Louisa Feve (1), Amanda Strickler (1), Christine Bender (1), Kelly Evans (1), Mallory Lobisser (1), Megan Slosson (1), Avery Lovejoy (1), Kate Corr (1)

Assists:
Franklin & Marshall: Kelly Cassels (2), Catherine Onnen (1)
W&L: Louisa Feve (1), Kelsi Robinson (1)

Shots: F&M 35, W&L 24

Ground Balls: F&M 38, W&L 38

Turnovers: F&M 11, W&L 18

Goalies: F&M - Kamissa Mort - 60:00, 13 saves, 10 goals
W&L - Sarah Tilbor - 36:53, 9 saves, 10 goals
W&L - Ali Hillyard - 23:07, 4 saves, 3 goals