ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Becky Willert recorded two first-half goals and Allison McLaren added another shortly after halftime as the 2nd-ranked Franklin & Marshall field hockey team took down Muhlenberg, 3-1, in Centennial Conference (CC) action on a windy Saturday afternoon in Allentown. The Diplomats remain perfect in CC play and move to 12-1 (7-0 CC) with the victory, while the Mules fall for the third straight time and are now 4-9 (2-5 CC).

F&M bounced back nicely in its first action since being handed its first loss of the year on Tuesday to No. 4 Lynchburg. Willert started the scoring in the 10th minute by finishing a rebound off a saved shot, before making it 2-0 F&M in the 26th minute with another second-chance score off a loosed ball near goal. The senior forward now has 21 goals on the year and 40 for her career, moving her into a third-place tie for the single-season goal-scoring mark and sole possession of sixth place on the all-time list.

Muhlenberg answered back just before halftime to pull within one of the Diplomats. Devon Barber put the Mules on the board with a lofted shot from the left side that went over F&M goalkeeper Avery Koep and into the cage to make it 2-1 at the intermission.

The Diplomats responded shortly after the half as McLaren registered her seventh score of the year in the 44th minute. Maura Hennigan rifled a shot from outside the left edge of the circle that McLaren deflected up and over Muhlenberg goalkeeper Kristen Dornenburg to make it a 3-1 F&M cushion.

Koep managed two saves on the afternoon to pick up the win in the cage for F&M, while Dornenburg totaled 12 saves for the Mules in the loss.

The 2nd-ranked Diplomats return home on Wednesday, Oct. 19 to host Lebanon Valley at 7:00 pm in non-conference action.

#2 Franklin & Marshall 12-1 (7-0 CC) vs. Muhlenberg 4-9 (2-5 CC)

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot
 -------------------------------
 Franklin & Marshall.  2  1 -  3
 Muhlenberg..........  1  0 -  1
 
 SCORING SUMMARY:
  1.   9:53 F&M Becky Willert (20) (unassisted) - rebound of saved shot
  2.  25:23 F&M Becky Willert (21) (unassisted) - rebound shot high
  3.  33:52 MUHL Devon Barber (4) (unassisted) - lofted over GK from left side
  4.  43:32 F&M Allison McLaren (7) (Maura Hennigan) - deflected in circle over head of GK

 Shots: Franklin & Marshall 23, Muhlenberg 7
 Saves: Franklin & Marshall 2 (Avery Koep 2), Muhlenberg 12 (Kristen Dornenburg 12)