Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – With a 5-0 shutout over McDaniel in Centennial Conference (CC) action on Saturday afternoon at Tylus Field, Franklin & Marshall field hockey coach Melissa Mariano captured the 77th win of her career, passing Sue Kloss (1981-87) for first on the all-time list.
The Diplomats improved to 16-1, 10-0 CC on the season heading into the conference playoffs, which begin next Saturday in Lancaster. The Green Terror fell to 8-9, 3-7 CC with the loss.
F&M got on the board first in the 24th minute of the opening half when Maria Guarisco deflected in a Katie Cecere shot from the right side of the circle to make the score 1-0.
In the second, Meghan Barlow tallied her third of the season in the 44th minute when the senior forward took a Guarisco pass from the top of the circle and fired in a shot from five feet out.
Just two minutes later, Audrey Buckman added to the scoring with her fifth of the season to put the Diplomats out in front at 3-0. Juliet Dalton ripped a shot on the left side of the circle over to Buckman on the right side who deflected it home.
Guarisco continued the onslaught with her second of the game and F&M's third in a span of three minutes with an unassisted tally from five feet out in the 47th minute. Barlow wrapped up the scoring in the 50th minute with her second of the game when she snuck a shot underneath the pads of the Green Terror's keeper and into the back of the cage.
F&M goalkeeper Avery Koep (15-1) picked up the victory after her defense did not allow a shot on goal through the 62 minutes she patrolled the pipes. Koep earned her eighth shutout of the season, giving her 31 for her career and passing Laura Cianciulli (1978-81) for first on the school's all-time list. Patricia Smith entered the contest with seven minutes to go and picked up a save to preserve the shutout.
The Diplomats outshot McDaniel 23-7 on the contest, including a 14-4 margin in the second. F&M was also dominant on corners at 10-5. Guarisco led the offense with two goals and an assist, registering six shots on the contest.
F&M heads into the CC Playoffs with the top seed and home field advantage after going undefeated in the conference during the regular season. The semifinals are slated for a 12:00 p.m. start next Saturday at Tylus Field.
The Diplomats will take on the winner of the No. 4 and No.5 matchup, set for Wednesday. Check back with GoDiplomats.com later in the week for updates.
