Box Score LANCASTER, Pa. – A goal by Juliet Dalton in the 22nd minute of the first half proved to be all the No. 6 Franklin & Marshall field hockey team needed in a 1-0 shutout of No. 13 Messiah on Tuesday evening at Tylus Field.
The Diplomats have now blanked their opponents in five consecutive contests and remain unbeaten at 8-0 on the year, while the Falcons fell to 4-4.
With the score knotted at 0-0 midway through the first half, Dalton sent a penalty corner in to Maria Guarisco at the left of the circle, who rocketed a shot that Dalton managed to deflect into the back of the cage.
The first half was even as neither team held a significant advantage on possession and the shot count barely favored F&M at 5-3 heading into the break. However, the Diplomats came out firing in the second half with back-to-back corners in the 29th minute.
On the second attempt, Tamara Mills had a good look on the cage from just inside the circle on the left side, finding open space and firing a shot on goal that Messiah's keeper turned away with her blocker.
Under a minute to go in regulation, the Falcons had an opportunity to tie up the contest when Carissa Gehman stepped a few feet in the circle and sent a shot on goal, but F&M keeper Allie Morey was there for one of her two shots on the game to preserve the win.
The Diplomats led in shots at 15-9 and on corners at 15-6. Eleven of F&M's corners came in the second half. Guarisco paced the offense with seven shots, followed by three from Clare Wirth.
Morey (8-0) secured the win, while the Falcons' Carly Daly (4-4) was charged with the loss, despite picking up six saves.
F&M returns to Centennial Conference (CC) action on Saturday when the Diplomats host Ursinus at 12:00 p.m.
