Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. -- Franklin & Marshall rallied from a four goal deficit to force overtime and then capture the 2010 Centennial Conference Championship, the Diplomats' fourth in as many years. Cat Serpe provided the difference in the 9-8 title game, scoring with five seconds remaining in the second overtime period.

Serpe, who scored the equalizer that forced overtime in the 2009 NCAA Division III championship game, circled behind the net and fired from the edge of the goal circle. Her low shot found a home on the Clark Field turf in the back of the Gettysburg net. It also sent the draw back to midfield, effectively denying the Bullets any shot of knotting the game for the fourth time.

Serpe's game-winning goal, her third of the day, was the answer to Gettysburg's game-tying goal with exactly 30 seconds left in the second overtime. Marnie Commins bounced a shot between Lidia Sanza's wickets to knot it at 8-8.

Serpe had helped make the game-tying goal necessary. With 24 seconds left in the first overtime period, she ran by two defenders on the endline, rolled out front and found Lauren Erhardt camped on the goalmouth. Erhardt's turnaround blast gave the Diplomats their first lead since the early moments of the first half. Serpe finished the game with a hat trick and an assist.

F&M trailed 7-3 with under eight minutes to play when Meredith Lussier finally jumpstarted the offense. She finished with a goal and three assists, all coming on the Diplomats' 3:51 game-tying run. She fed three quick stick goals from behind the net before making a wraparound run from the same spot to knot it at 7-7.

While the offense did its thing, Lidia Sanza stepped up with three huge stops in the final 36 minutes. Hannah Church had the game in her stick, but was denied point blank with 1:30 in regulation. Sanza recorded equally impressive stops in each overtime period on her way to six saves in the game.

The Bullets built their lead employing the same gameplan as in the regular season meeting, using long and deliberate offensive possessions to keep the Diplomats out of rhythm. The approach limited F&M to just a pair of shots and a single goal in the first half, a free position blast by Maggie Mae Shields.

That gave the Diplomats the early lead, but the Bullets countered with four unanswered goals heading into the half. Jessica Crane handed out assists on the first and fourth goal, allowing easy quick stick finishes for Lindsey Robinson and Lexie Hearn. Crane scored the second Gettysburg goal in the spate. She finished with two goals and two assists.

The Bullets opened the second half with a seven minute possession that ended with Crane's second, an unassisted effort. F&M's Cat Serpe answered with a low shot on the doorstep to finish a wraparound run seven minutes later, breaking the Diplomats' offensive drought after 38 minutes. The teams traded goals before Katie Delaney cashed in on a Lussier feed to start the game-tying run with 7:51 to play.

Both Hargest and Crane hit the pipe in the second half, while the Diplomats had a goal waved off in the second period. Erin Dunne, who gave the Diplomats life with a tightrope walk between the crease and a defender with 14:57 to play, offered a repeat performance at the 11-minute mark. On the second showing, she was hit with a charge.

Gettysburg out-shot their guests 26-12, won a dozen draws to F&M's nine, turned the ball over less and won more ground balls.

The Diplomats will wait to learn their NCAA fate. The 2010 NCAA Divisions I, II and III Men's and Women's Lacrosse Championships brackets will be announced exclusively on CBS College Sports Network during the NCAA Lacrosse Selection Special. The brackets will be revealed next Sunday night, between 10 and 11 p.m. Eastern time. CBS College Sports Network is available on local cable systems around the country and also via satellite on Dish Network channel 152 and DirecTV channel 613. GoDiplomats.com will furnish an update following the Division III women's selection.

Franklin & Marshall (14-3) vs. Gettysburg (16-3)

SCORE BY PERIOD 1 2 OT Tot

Franklin & Marshall. 1 6 2 - 9

Gettysburg.......... 4 3 1 - 8

Franklin & Marshall SCORING: GOALS: Cat Serpe 3; Meredith Lussier 1; Blake Hargest 1; Erin Dunne 1; Maggie Mae Shields 1; Katie Delaney 1; Lauren Ehrhardt 1.

ASSISTS: Meredith Lussier 3; Cat Serpe 1.

Gettysburg SCORING: GOALS: Jessica Crane 2; Hannah Church 2; Nina Emala 1; Lindsey Robinson 1; Marnie Commins 1; Lexie Hearn 1.

ASSISTS: Jessica Crane 2.

Franklin & Marshall GROUND BALLS: Lidia Sanza 6; Erin Dunne 2;

Paulette Cutruzzula 1; Meredith Lussier 1; Maggie Mae Shields 1; Cat Serpe 1; Stolle Singleton 1.

Gettysburg GROUND BALLS: Kristen Krammer 3; Lindsey Robinson 3; Jessica Crane 2; Emily Gaffney 2; Anna Scanlan 2; Nina Emala 1; Lexi Kelly 1; Hollis Stahl 1.

Franklin & Marshall TURNOVERS CAUSED: Lidia Sanza 3; Blake Hargest 1; Meredith Lussier 1; Amanda Miceli 1; Cat Serpe 1.

Gettysburg TURNOVERS CAUSED: Jessica Crane 4; Emily Gaffney 3; Lexi Kelly 2; Anna Scanlan 2; Lexie Hearn 1.

SHOTS - Franklin & Marshall 12; Gettysburg 26.

SHOTS ON GOAL - Franklin & Marshall 10; Gettysburg 14.

TURNOVERS - Franklin & Marshall 15; Gettysburg 12.

CLEARS - Franklin & Marshall 10-12; Gettysburg 12-14.

GOALIES - F&M: Lidia Sanza 14-3 (66:00 minutes, 14 shots-6 saves, 8 GA); GC: Kristen Krammer 15-3 (66:00, 10-1, 9).