Box Score

GLASSBORO, N.J. – The Rowan Profs issued Franklin & Marshall's women's lacrosse team its first road test of the season on Thursday. Spurred on by a dominant defense, the No. 1 Diplomats (3-0) passed with flying colors, picking up a 14-4 win over Rowan (1-1).

After trading early goals, and allowing a third at 16:01 in the first half, F&M's defense went into lockdown, keeping the Profs off of the scoreboard for 37:33. It wasn't until Rowan's Lubriano went against the grain after streaking through F&M's defense across the goal mouth at 5:29 in the second half that Rowan changed the scoreboard. The Diplomats reeled off eight goals in that stretch, including four by Meredith Lussier. Lussier finished the game with five goals. She wasn't credited with an assist, but a lobbed pass over the fan to Blake Hargest behind the net led directly to an F&M goal in the second half.

Hargest scored three goals in the game including the first two on quick sticks to finish Sarah Veneski feeds on either side of the net. Veneski recorded two goals and two assists on the afternoon. Hargest also recorded a pair of assists.

While Hargest, Lussier, and Veneski provided the fireworks, it was Cat Serpe that gave the Diplomats the spark.  With the game knotted at 2-2, Serpe streaked across the top of the eight meter fan and beat Rowan's Kerry Pehnke top right for the go ahead goal. Serpe then set up Veneski feeding a quick stick directly from behind right out in front. Following the draw and a quick foul, Serpe stripped the ball clean from a Profs' stick and ran through four Rowan defenders. Alone behind enemy lines, Serpe waited for her teammates to reconvene. The possession ended with a Lussier weaving left to right across the front of the net before burying it top right.

The Diplomats outshot Rowan 27-14. F&M's Lidia Sanza was up to the task on half of the shots. The Profs possessed in front of F&M's net for the final two minutes of the first half, but could not muster a shot.

F&M's win was the fourth in as many games against Rowan.

The Diplomats return to action next week in Lake Lytal, Florida. F&M will face No. 8 Babson on Tuesday.

Franklin & Marshall (3-0) vs. Rowan (1-1)

SCORE BY PERIOD 1 2 Tot

Franklin & Marshall. 9 5 - 14

Rowan............... 3 1 - 4

Franklin & Marshall SCORING: GOALS: Meredith Lussier 5; Blake Hargest 3; Sarah Veneski 2; Cat Serpe 2; Erin Dunne 1; Margaret Shields 1.

ASSISTS: Blake Hargest 2; Sarah Veneski 2; Erin Dunne 1; Cat Serpe 1.

Rowan SCORING: GOALS: Alli Dickey 2; Lauren Yee 1; Michelle Lubrano 1.

ASSISTS: Lauren Yee 1.

Franklin & Marshall GROUND BALLS: Lidia Sanza 2; Casey Downie 1; Lauren Ehrhardt 1; Amanda Miceli 1; Laura Ruppersberger 1; Cat Serpe 1; Margaret Shields 1.

Rowan GROUND BALLS: Alli Dickey 2; Tara Dinn 1; Trish Harrington 1; Kaitlyn Molzon 1; Alayna Morris 1; Kerry Pehnke 1.

Franklin & Marshall TURNOVERS CAUSED: Katie Delaney 1; Erin Dunne 1; Meredith Lussier 1; Laura Ruppersberger 1; Sarah Veneski 1.

Rowan TURNOVERS CAUSED: Tara Dinn 2; Alli Dickey 1; Kaitlyn Molzon 1; Alayna Morris 1.

SHOTS - Franklin & Marshall 27; Rowan 14.

SHOTS ON GOAL - Franklin & Marshall 0; Rowan 0.

TURNOVERS - Franklin & Marshall 7; Rowan 15.

CLEARS - Franklin & Marshall 12-13; Rowan 6-11.

GOALIES - F&M: Lidia Sanza 3-0 (60:00 minutes, 11 shots-7 saves, 4 GA); ROW: Kerry Pehnke 1-1 (42:26, 14-6, 8) , Lorraine Young (17:34, 8-2, 6).