Box Score WESTMINSTER, Md. – Two first-half goals and a stingy defense gave Franklin & Marshall a lead it would not surrender on Monday night in Centennial Conference (CC) field hockey action, pulling away for a 3-0 victory over host McDaniel. The Diplomats improved to 7-2, 4-0 CC with the win, while the Green Terror fell to 2-7, 1-3 CC.
Nicole Bodo provided what would prove to be the game-winner following a corner just 3:27 into the first half, taking a pass from Annie Horsley and scoring on the game's first shot. The goal was the second of the season for Bodo and gave F&M an early 1-0 advantage.
The Diplomats kept the pressure up in the next 14 minutes, eventually doubling their lead following another corner in the 18th minute. This time Emily Nagle was the scorer, tapping in at the back post after a blast from Sarah Schannauer. Nagle's first goal of the season gave F&M a 2-0 lead.
The remaining minutes of the first half saw continued control from the Diplomats, but were unable to further extend the lead. The potent offense paired with a tough defense to give F&M a 6-0 lead in shots and a 9-0 edge in penalty corners.
The early moments of the second half saw the Green Terror record its only corner and shot of the game in the 41st minute, but the Diplomat defense kept the shutout intact and did not allow a shot or corner in the remaining 29 minutes.
F&M's dominance paid off in the 62nd minute, when Erin Coverdale's third goal of the season put the game out of reach. Sydney Cole beat a defender on the right side, and from the end line slid a pass back to Coverdale, who converted from about eight yards out to ice the game.
Coverdale and Horsley paced the offense with four shots each. Diplomat goalkeeper Ilianna Santangelo (7-2) earned the win despite not being forced into a save as F&M owned the shot count (11-1) and corner count (17-1).
F&M looks to continue its winning ways on Wednesday when Johns Hopkins comes to Lancaster for a game at 7:00 p.m.
