BALTIMORE, Md. - For the first time in 2011 the Franklin & Marshall field hockey team found itself facing a deficit on Wednesday afternoon at Johns Hopkins. The end result, however, was much of the same as the 3rd-ranked Diplomats rallied for a 2-1 victory over the host Blue Jays in Centennial Conference (CC) action in Baltimore.

With the win, the Diplomats snap a seven-game skid to JHU and improve to 10-0 overall and 5-0 in the CC, while Hopkins drops to 5-5 overall and 2-2 CC play. This marks just the second victory in F&M history in Baltimore and the first since Oct. 24, 1977. The victory also ties the Diplomats with the 1976 F&M squad for the most consecutive wins. 

Hopkins got on the board first in the 11th minute. Sam Stuek drove a hard hit from just outside the circle to Annie Shepard, who was positioned in front of F&M goalkeeper Avery Koep. Shepard was able to tip the ball up and over Koep and into the goal for an early 1-0 JHU edge.

F&M responded 10 minutes later on a well-executed give-and-go between Chelsey Talhelm and Kimmy Fisher off a penalty corner. Talhelm played a short pass directly off the corner to Fisher, who sent the ball right back to the stick of Talhelm. The junior forward then fired a strike just between the outstretched pad of JHU goalkeeper Kim Stein and the right post to even the count at 1-1.

In the 29th minute the Diplomats would take the lead for good. Maura Hennigan dribbled forward and sent a shot towards goal from about 17 yards out. Allison McLaren was there to re-direct the shot to the stick of Becky Willert, who one-timed it home to give F&M the 2-1 lead.

The Diplomats held a commanding edge in both shots (25-6) and penalty corners (19-4).

Koep turned away four shots in the full 70 minutes of action to earn the win in the cage for F&M, while Stein totaled 13 saves in the loss for JHU.

F&M returns home on Sunday, Oct. 9 to host CC foe Haverford at 11:00 am.

Franklin & Marshall (10-0, 5-0 CC) vs. Johns Hopkins (5-5, 2-2 CC)

 Goals by period       1  2  Tot

 -------------------------------

 Franklin & Marshall.  2  0 -  2

 Johns Hopkins.......  1  0 -  1

 SCORING SUMMARY:

  1.  10:24 JHUFH Annie Shepard (4) (Sam Stuek)

  2.  20:31 F&M Chelsey Talhelm (11) (Kimmy Fisher)

  3.  28:45 F&M Becky Willert (18) (Allison McLaren)

 Shots: Franklin & Marshall 25, Johns Hopkins 6

 Saves: Franklin & Marshall 4 (Avery Koep 4), Johns Hopkins 14 (Kim Stein 13; TEAM 1)