CHESTERTOWN, Md. – No. 6 Washington defeated Franklin & Marshall 14-6 in the Centennial Conference (CC) Men's Lacrosse Championship Saturday afternoon. The Shoremen improved to 15-1 while the Diplomats dropped to 13-5. The 13 wins this season marks the first time since 1972-74 that the Diplomats have put together three consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins.  

Washington earned the CC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament while the Diplomats will have to wait and see if they can secure one of five Pool C at-large bids. The selection show will air tomorrow evening at 10:15 p.m. at NCAA.com.

The Diplomats took control early with a 2-0 edge led by a defense that forced seven turnovers in the opening quarter. Billy Kempner picked up the first goal when he took a pass from Chad Gamble and found the back of the net from 10 yards out. Will Ballantyne buried a pass from Jamie McCulloch at 4:50 to make it 2-0, but the Shoremen responded and took the lead for good with a 5-0 run. 

Washington's run started at 3:37 in the first quarter with a goal by Sid Looney and ended at 7:41 in the second when Jim Cusick netted his second goal of the game to make it 5-2. The Diplomats came within two when F&M caught Washington in transition and Philip Gamble connected with Michael Bossidy to make it 5-3 at 4:50. Cusick countered for the Shoremen with a goal 13 seconds later for a 6-3 Shoremen lead at the break. 

The Shoremen opened the third quarter with three straight and went up 9-3 before Evan Bakst hooked up with Ben Ross at 7:23. Cusick got his fourth for the Shoremen at 4:28 and Chad Gamble found Kempner a minute later to bring F&M within five, 10-5, at 4:28 in the third. Washington responded with four straight, three goals in the fourth quarter, to lead 14-5 with 1:31 left. 

Bossidy put the last point on the board with an unassisted tally with 39 seconds left to play for the 14-6 final.

Bossidy and Kempner finished with a pair of goals while Ballantyne and Ross each netted one. Chad Gamble handed out two assists and both Philip Gamble and McCulloch had an assist. 

Cusick led the way for Washington with five goals and two assists while Hunter Nowicki and Sid Looney both finished with three goals and two helpers.  

Carlos Pelaez ended with two caused turnovers and a game-high eight ground balls to pace the defense. Nicholas Zenobio, Josh Kanter and Nick Wells all caused two turnovers for F&M.

Cameron Setian took the loss with 12 stops and dropped to 13-5 while Ted DiSalvo had 20 saves in the win. 

F&M outshot Washington 45-41, forced 16 turnovers and went 17-for-18 in clear attempts.