LANCASTER, Pa. – Blake Hargest scored five goals and assisted on another to lead #2 Franklin & Marshall to a 15-5 win over #6 Union in Saturday's NCAA Regional Semifinal. The victory advances the Diplomats (18-1) to Sunday's Region Final where F&M will face either St. John Fisher or Tufts.

Hargest scored twice in the first 57 seconds and netted each of F&M 's first three goals as the Diplomats opened up with a 7-1 run on the Dutchwomen (15-4). F&M's run began with dominance on the draw circle. The Diplomats won nine of the first half's 10 draws, preventing Union from ever establishing an offensive rhythm.

Sparked by Hargest's early energy, the Diplomats peppered Union keeper Cat Ruggiero with 17 shots in the first 30 minutes. Ruggiero turned away seven of the first half shots and 10 in the game. F&M outshot Union 32-15 over the duration.

Melissa Hine answered Hargest's opening salvo with an unassisted marker at 14:45. Meredith Lussier scored the first of her four in the game around the first pair of Jen Pritcahrd's hat trick. Allie Cuozo made it 7-2 going into the half with a free position goal with five minutes left in the first half.

Three of Union's five goals were scored from the eight-meter mark. Chelsea Charette got the second eight-meter goal four minutes into the second half as the teams traded goals in the early going. The Duthcwomen had nine FPS attempts in the game, but Diplomats' backstop, Lidia Sanza needed only four saves to pick up the win.

Kristin Joyce netted the final free position goal of the game with 20:48 left in regulation. Less than three minutes later, Ashley Bevington collected a ground ball on a failed clear attempt and went to the Union cage with a head full of steam. Bevington ran through a defender and beat Ruggiero under the crossbar. The Diplomats did not get off of the gas from there.

18 seconds after Bevington's blast, Shannon Summers collected a feed from Jen Pritchard behind the net to make it 10-4. Joyce ended Union's day of scoring at the 16:51 mark with a solo effort. She weaved through three Diplomat defenders to beat Sanza for the final time on the afternoon.

Six different Diplomats scored in the win with five registering helpers. Summers and Sarah Meisenberg each recorded three assists. Pritchard recorded the win on seven draw controls in the game. Amanda Miceli, Devi Hensch and Lussier each forced two of the 21 Dutchwomen turnover, helping F&M to disrupt eight of Union's 18 clear attempts.

#6 Union vs #2 Franklin & Marshall (May 9, 2009 at Lancaster, Pa.)
Union (15-4) vs. Franklin & Marshall (18-1)
Date: May 9, 2009   Location: Lancaster, Pa.        Stadium: NCAFAttendance:287   Start time:11:30 am  End time:1:12 pm   Total time:1:42

SCORE BY PERIOD       1  2  Tot
Union...............  2  3 -  5
Franklin & Marshall.  7  8 - 15


Union SCORING: GOALS: Kristin Joyce 2; Chelsea Charette 1; Allie Cuozzo 1; Melissa Hine 1. ASSISTS: None.

Franklin & Marshall SCORING: GOALS: Blake Hargest 5; Meredith Lussier 4; Jen Pritchard 3; Shannon Summers 1; Ashley Bevington 1; Cat Serpe 1. ASSISTS: Sarah Meisenberg 3; Shannon Summers 3; Lauren Ehrhardt 1; Blake Hargest 1; Jen Pritchard 1.

Union GROUND BALLS: Ally Boertzel 3; Kat Egizi 3; Kristin Joyce 2; Chelsea Charette 1; Allie Cuozzo 1; Jill LaForest 1; Lizzy Moran 1; Lizzy Rosato 1; Kellin Skurek 1.

Franklin & Marshall GROUND BALLS: Amanda Miceli 3; Ashley Bevington 2; Lauren Ehrhardt 2; Sarah Meisenberg 2; Shannon Summers 2; Blake Hargest 1; Devi Hensch 1; Sarah Nyman 1; Jen Pritchard 1; Lidia Sanza 1.

Union TURNOVERS CAUSED: Chelsea Charette 2; Kat Egizi 1; Kristin Joyce 1; Becca Krinsky 1; Lizzy Rosato 1; Elise Wakeland 1.

Franklin & Marshall TURNOVERS CAUSED: Devi Hensch 2; Meredith Lussier 2; Amanda Miceli 2; Ashley Bevington 1; Allison Solomon 1; Shannon Summers 1.

SHOTS - Union 15; Franklin & Marshall 32.
SHOTS ON GOAL - Union 9; Franklin & Marshall 25.
TURNOVERS - Union 21; Franklin & Marshall 15.
CLEARS - Union 10-18; Franklin & Marshall 12-15.

GOALIES - UNION: Cat Ruggiero 13-4 (60:00 minutes, 25 shots-10 saves, 15 GA); F&MW: Lidia Sanza 16-1 (60:00, 9-4, 5).

Start time: 11:30 am  Finish time: 1:12 pm   Length of game: 1:42
Officials: Nancy Coffman; Peggy Hoffman; Cathy McWilliams; Loretta Pawlowski; (table). Scorer: Leach & Stillson.