LANCASTER, Pa. – No. 6 Gettysburg handed No. 2 Franklin & Marshall a 14-11 setback Wednesday evening in Centennial Conference (CC) women's lacrosse action. The Diplomats dropped to 14-2, 7-1 CC while the Bullets improved to 13-2, 7-1 CC and all but secured the top spot in the CC Playoffs.

F&M struck first when Brittney Jorgenson buried a pass from Anastasia Mergner a little over a minute in the contest. Gettysburg responded with a goal 71 seconds later and tied the game at 1-1. Paige Moriarty put the Diplomats up 2-1 when she finished off a pass from Jorgenson before the Bullets answered with a 5-0 run and took the lead for good.

Gabby Frank stopped the streak with a tally off a Grace Saliba feed at 16:57 and Gettysburg matched with a goal 10 seconds later. Natalie Delinsky brought F&M within three, 7-4, with tally off a Morairty pass before Bridget Kenny scored on a free position three minutes later. Mergner snuck one over the line to make it 8-5 at the break.

The Bullets tallied two straight to start the second and took a 10-5 lead at 24:21 in and the Diplomats countered with four straight to come within a score. Megan Kelly started the run with a score at 22:05 before Saliba found Frank under a minute later to bring F&M within three, 10-7, at 21:20. Kelly struck again at 19:41 and Emily Everdell finished off the streak on a free position goal with 13 minutes left in the game.

Gettysburg appeared to stop the run on a free position goal, but the tally was called off do to an illegal stick. However F&M was unable to capitalize and the Bullets put two on the board and took a 12-9 lead. Saliba connected with Frank at 3:40, but the Bullets countered with a goal at 3:11 to stay out in front by three scores. Katie Groenke gave the Diplomats hope with a marker at 1:17, and F&M fired off a shot with 44 seconds left, but the Bullets were able to maintain possession and snuck a late one through with two ticks on the clock.

Samantha Blicht, Mergner and Sarah Bozzo all caused three turnovers to pace the Diplomats defense and Bozzo a team-high three ground balls.

Kaitlin Hardt took the loss and dropped to 8-1 while Shannon Keeler picked up the win with 11 saves for the Bullets.

F&M forced 19 turnovers, but the Bullets held a 26-25 edge in shots, a 17-9 advantage in draw controls and went 4-for-6 on free position shots.

F&M returns to action on Saturday when the Diplomats travel to Dickinson for a 12:00 p.m. opening draw.