Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. - Three different Diplomats tallied hat tricks to lead No. 1 Franklin & Marshall to a 16-8 win over No. 16 Washington & Lee in the opening game of F&M's second NCAA title defense. Senior attack, Blake Hargest gave the Diplomats (1-0) an early boost, and left the Generals (2-2) playing catch-up the rest of the way.

Washington & Lee got on the board first when Kate Donnelly cashed in on a free position shot just under two-and-a-half in. Hargest, whose last goal secured the 2009 NCAA Title, rolled out from behind the net and popped in the first of the new season 44 seconds later. Hargest struck again 2:51 later on the first of consecutive goals assisted by Meredith Lussier. Lussier fed Laura Ruppersberger less than two minutes later before finally punching in on her own at 21:41 to make it 4-1. Ruppersberger and Hargest accounted for two-thirds of the three-goal games. Margaret Shields, who scored her first collegiate goal late in the first half, was the third.

The Diplomats made it 5-1 before W&L's Christina Benedetti scored on the free position to break up the five-goal run. The Generals scored on three of their seven FPS attempts. The goal was the first of Benedetti's three. She was the only General to register multiple points in the contest.

 It was over nine minutes before anyone else scored, but Lussier broke up the stalemate with a nifty move from right to left across the front of the goal mouth. She reversed her hands beyond the left post and dumped it home to make it 6-2. Shields netted the first of two before the half three minutes later, giving her team an 8-3 lead going into the break.

The Diplomats came out of the half firing on all cylinders scoring once in each of the first three minutes. Cat Serpe quick-sticked home a Hargest feed on the right post to spark the mini-run. 46 seconds later it was Hargest flashing the quick-stick from the same real estate. F&M needed only 32 seconds to make it 11-3 when a cutting Ruppersberger collected a high feed from Shields and found the inside of the cage.

The teams traded goals over the next ten minutes, but the Diplomats lead was never in peril. The Generals' keeper, Katharine Farrar saw 34 shots lobbed in her direction. She turned away 13, including eight in the second half.

Lussier and Serpe each posted a pair of goals and three assists for F&M. Lidia Sanza recorded eight saves in the win. Erin Dunne collected a game-high six ground balls to go with her goal and assist. Paulette Cutruzulla caused three turnovers while Serpe forced two.

The Diplomats return to action on Tuesday against Adrian College.

#16 Washington & Lee vs #1 Franklin & Marshall (Mar 6, 2010 at Lancaster, Pa.)

SCORE BY PERIOD 1 2 Tot
Washington & Lee.... 3 5 - 8
Franklin & Marshall. 8 8 - 16

Washington & Lee SCORING: GOALS: Christina Benedetti 3; Meredith Freeman 1; Emmy Mathews 1; Wilton Megargel 1; Elizabeth Bucklee 1; Kate Donnelly 1. ASSISTS: Maddie McKaig 1.

Franklin & Marshall SCORING: GOALS: Margaret Shields 3; Blake Hargest 3; Laura Ruppersberger 3; Merdeith Lussier 2; Cat Serpe 2; Sarah Veneski 1; Erin Dunne 1; Lauren Ehrhardt 1. ASSISTS: Merdeith Lussier 3; Cat Serpe 3; Sarah Veneski 2; Erin Dunne 1; Blake Hargest 1; Margaret Shields 1.

Washington & Lee GROUND BALLS: Julia Gotwald 4; Christina Benedetti 3; Katharine Farrar 3; Emmy Mathews 3; Lauren Acker 2; Laura Cavanaugh 2; Maddie McKaig 2; Kathy Brown 1; Britten Mathews 1; Wilton Megargel 1; Kate Speare 1.

Franklin & Marshall GROUND BALLS: Erin Dunne 6; Lidia Sanza 5; Laura Ruppersberger 3; Blake Hargest 2; Amanda Miceli 2; Cat Serpe 2; Margaret Shanley 2; Sarah Veneski 2; Katie Delaney 1; Lauren Ehrhardt 1.

Washington & Lee TURNOVERS CAUSED: Kathy Brown 2; Julia Gotwald 2; Laura Cavanaugh 1; Caroline Kingsbery 1; Emmy Mathews 1; Maddie McKaig 1.

Franklin & Marshall TURNOVERS CAUSED: Paulette Cutruzzula 3; Cat Serpe 2; Erin Dunne 1; Blake Hargest 1; Merdeith Lussier 1; Lidia Sanza 1; Margaret Shanley 1; Margaret Shields 1.

SHOTS - Washington & Lee 25; Franklin & Marshall 34.
SHOTS ON GOAL - Washington & Lee 16; Franklin & Marshall 29.
TURNOVERS - Washington & Lee 22; Franklin & Marshall 17.
FACEOFFS - Washington & Lee 0-0; Franklin & Marshall 0-0.
CLEARS - Washington & Lee 14-20; Franklin & Marshall 16-19.
GOALIES - W-L: Katharine Farrar 2-2 (60:00 minutes, 29 shots-13 saves, 16 GA); F&M: Lidia Sanza 1-0 (60:00, 16-8, 8).