GRANTHAM, Pa. – Emily Everdell's goal with three minutes remaining in the game proved to be the difference as No. 8 Franklin & Marshall defeated No. 15 Messiah 8-7 in women's lacrosse action Wednesday evening.  The Diplomats improved in to 4-1 while the Falcons dropped to 2-4. 

F&M led 7-3 six minutes into the second half and looked to be in control before Messiah rattled off four straight goals in seven minutes to tie the game at 7-7 at 17:09 left play.  The ensuing 14 minutes proved to be a defensive battle before Everdell was fouled, sending the sophomore to the arc. Everdell made the best of the situation and buried the free position shot for the game-winner.

Messiah had an opportunity to score after the draw, but Kelsey Hoffman came up big with a save and the Diplomats were able to run out the clock and secure the victory. 

Maggie Mae Shields put F&M on the board first with a goal at 28:13 and the Falcons tied the game eight minutes later. Kara Stanley found Brittney Jorgenson to put F&M up 2-1 before Messiah answered with score at 19:46. The Diplomats countered with a 4-0 run to finish the half and went into the break with a 6-2 lead. 

Jorgenson assisted Lauren Selawski to start the run and Caroline Krohn struck on a free position shot at 13:43 to make it 4-2. Mary Mitchell got one through with just under four minutes to play and Everdell found Shields at 1:03 for the final score of the run. 

The Falcons netted a goal at 24:18 in the second half before Grace Saliba hooked up with Anastasia Mergner 15 seconds later to give F&M a 7-3 lead, setting up Messiah's game-tying run. 

Jen Noon and Christie Bonfiglio came up big on the defense. Noon caused four turnovers and collected six groundballs while Bonfiglio finished with four caused turnovers with four ground balls. 

Hoffman had two saves and improved to 4-1 and Taylor Phillips took the loss with eight saves. 

The Diplomats outshot Messiah 26-11 and went 16-for-19 in clears. 

F&M returns to action on Saturday when the Diplomats travel to Muhlenberg for the conference opener at 1:00 p.m.  before hosting No. 2 Salisbury on Sunday at  1:00 p.m.