ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – The No. 8 Franklin & Marshall field hockey team shutout Elizabethtown by a 1-0 score to kick off their 2014 campaign on Friday evening in non-conference action. The win gave the Diplomats a 1-0 record on the year, while the Blue Jays fell to 0-1.

Scoring chances were limited for both offenses in the opening half with each team trading shots early on. When the horn sounded after the opening stanza, F&M held a narrow 5-3 edge on shots, but forced the Blue Jays' goalkeeper, Selene Jones, to make three saves.

In the second, F&M came out firing. Just two minutes into the frame, Juliet Dalton made her way on goal from the left side and fed Sydney Cole in the box, who tipped the ball into the back of the cage to hand the Diplomats a 1-0 lead.

The offense for F&M dominated possession from there on out, recording 11 shots in the half, while the defense held Elizabethtown without a shot on goal. The Blue Jays threatened late with a series of penalty corners, but the Diplomats managed to hang on for the narrow victory. 

For the game, F&M outshot its opposition by a 16-4 mark, while also holding a 13-6 edge on corners. Nine of the Diplomats' shots reached goal as the defense played stellar, allowing only one shot to rmake its way to goalkeeper Allie Morey (1-0). Jones (1-0) took the loss after turning back nine shots on the evening, including six in the second half. 

Maria Guarisco led the offense with six shots, while Lauren Eastman and Mary Kate Meedzan registered three apiece.

The Diplomats return to action on Wednesday when F&M hosts Alvernia at Tylus Field for their first home contest of the season. Action begins at 7:00 p.m.